In a treasure hunt that’s rivaled the puzzles in the films themselves, fans of the National Treasure franchise are finally unearthing signs of progress on the long-awaited third installment. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer dropped a tantalizing update at TheWrap’s 2025 TheGrill conference, confirming that National Treasure 3 is “getting closer” to reality—and yes, Nicolas Cage is expected to dust off his adventurer’s fedora and reprise his iconic role as Benjamin Franklin Gates.
It’s been a whopping 18 years since Cage last cracked cryptic codes and chased historical conspiracies in 2007’s National Treasure: Book of Secrets, the sequel to the 2004 original that grossed over $347 million worldwide and cemented the series as a family-friendly action-adventure staple. The first film followed Gates, a historian and treasure hunter, as he pursued a map hidden on the back of the Declaration of Independence, blending pulse-pounding heists with real American history. The follow-up upped the ante with a global scavenger hunt tied to Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, proving the formula’s enduring appeal.
But the road to National Treasure 3 has been anything but straightforward. Development hell struck early, with rumors swirling for over a decade. Disney even tested the waters in 2022 with the TV spinoff National Treasure: Edge of History, a Lisette Olivera-led series that introduced a new protagonist but notably sidelined Cage’s Gates. Bruckheimer reflected on the show as a strategic move: “No, it was completely different. We want to keep the name alive in the public eye [and] the zeitgeist.” While it garnered mixed reviews and didn’t spawn immediate follow-ups, it kept the franchise’s flame flickering.
Hope dimmed further in March 2024 when Cage himself poured cold water on the project during an interview, bluntly stating, “No, there is no National Treasure 3. If you want to find treasure, don’t look at Disney, okay? It’s not there.” The actor, known for his eclectic post-National Treasure career spanning blockbusters like Ghost Rider and indies such as Pig, seemed resigned to the idea that the series was buried under studio bureaucracy.
Yet, like one of Gates’ improbable clues, a turnaround emerged. In August 2024, screenwriter Ted Elliot revealed that a first draft of the script had been completed, teasing the return of core characters including Gates, his love interest Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger), and tech-savvy sidekick Riley Poole (Justin Bartha). Fast-forward to this week’s buzz, and Bruckheimer’s comments signal real momentum. “We’re getting closer on that one,” he said, adding that original director Jon Turteltaub is slated to helm the film once again. If the script locks in by year’s end, production could kick off as early as 2026, eyeing a theatrical release in 2027 or 2028—though Hollywood’s track record suggests fans should brace for potential delays.
Cage’s potential return couldn’t come at a better time. At 61, the Oscar winner is riding a wave of renewed appreciation for his unhinged charisma, fresh off roles in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent and the upcoming Longlegs. A National Treasure revival could blend his wild-man persona with the character’s intellectual sleuthing, perhaps delving into even wilder historical lore—think Mayan secrets or lost Founding Father artifacts. While plot details remain under wraps, the inclusion of Kruger and Bartha hints at a reunion that honors the originals’ ensemble chemistry.
As Bruckheimer juggles this with updates on Pirates of the Caribbean 6 and Top Gun 3, one thing’s clear: the treasure hunt for National Treasure 3 is yielding gold. For Cage and fans alike, the wait may soon end with a declaration worth signing: the series is back, and it’s time to chase the next clue.
Craig Dickinson | Movie Podcaster on X (formerly Twitter): “Put NATIONAL TREASURE 3 in my eyeballs! https://t.co/Eoo5peignS pic.twitter.com/A5fCngcndz / X”
Put NATIONAL TREASURE 3 in my eyeballs! https://t.co/Eoo5peignS pic.twitter.com/A5fCngcndz
