National Treasure 3 is ‘finally real’, says director Jon Turteltaub

Third National Treasure confirmed by franchise director

What Turteltaub said about National Treasure 3

“We finally have a script that I like,” the director said, adding that Disney had responded: “OK, this sounds like a movie we can make.”

Disney declined to comment. No casting has been announced and Nicolas Cage’s representative has not commented either.

However, Turteltaub’s remarks made clear the film hinges on the star’s return. Variety also reported the confirmation.

"It’s happening. You’re the first people I’ve said this out loud to. It’s finally real," he said.

"Now, it’s ‘Hollywood real,’ meaning things could happen. Nic gets hit by a bus, there’s no National Treasure 3.

"If I get hit by a bus, there’s probably a National Treasure 3. Welcome to Hollywood."

The 2004 original starred Cage as historian Ben Gates, who steals the Declaration of Independence to reach a rumoured ancient treasure first.

Harvey Keitel, Jon Voight, Diane Kruger, Sean Bean, Justin Bartha and Christopher Plummer also featured, and the film took $347 million worldwide.

The 2007 follow-up, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, added Helen Mirren, Ed Harris, Bruce Greenwood and Ty Burrell and earned $459 million.

A Disney+ spin-off, National Treasure: Edge of History, arrived in 2022 with Catherine Zeta-Jones and was cancelled after one season.

Nineteen years on from Book of Secrets, a franchise revival joins another long-awaited third film on the way back, in a year of recent box office milestones for legacy properties.

Turteltaub’s caveat stands: Hollywood real, not real real.