National Treasure 3 Is Finally Moving Forward With Nicolas Cage Set to Return

After nearly two decades of false starts, rewrites and development delays, director Jon Turteltaub says the long-awaited third National Treasure movie is finally becoming a reality—with Nicolas Cage returning as treasure hunter Ben Gates.

For years, fans of the National Treasure franchise have been chasing one mystery almost as elusive as the treasures hidden in the movies:

Will there ever be a third film?

Now, there is finally a reason to believe the answer is yes.

Director Jon Turteltaub, who helmed the first two movies, has confirmed that National Treasure 3 is moving forward at Disney and that the filmmakers finally have a screenplay they believe works. Turteltaub also indicated that Nicolas Cage is returning as Benjamin Franklin Gates, the historian and treasure hunter at the center of the franchise.  

A Sequel Nearly 20 Years in the Making

The original National Treasure arrived in theaters in 2004, introducing audiences to Cage’s Ben Gates and his obsession with uncovering historical mysteries.

The film combined American history, action, puzzles and conspiracy theories into a family-friendly adventure that became a substantial box-office success.

Disney followed it with National Treasure: Book of Secrets in 2007.

That sequel expanded the mythology and ended with one of the franchise’s most memorable teases: Page 47.

For almost two decades, fans have wondered what information was contained on that mysterious page.

Now, they may finally get an answer.

Jon Turteltaub Says the Movie Is “Finally Real”

Turteltaub recently provided the most substantial update yet during a live appearance connected to the National Treasure Hunt podcast in Philadelphia.

The director said the project is “finally real”, while also acknowledging that Hollywood projects can change before cameras actually roll.  

The critical difference this time is the screenplay.

According to Turteltaub, the creative team finally has a script that he likes—and Disney has responded positively to it.

That represents a major development for a project that has spent years cycling through different writers and versions of the story.

Nicolas Cage Is Expected Back as Ben Gates

The biggest piece of news for longtime fans is Cage’s expected return.

Cage played Benjamin Franklin Gates in both previous movies and remains the character most closely associated with the franchise.

Turteltaub indicated that, to the extent possible, the original team is being brought back, with Cage among those expected to return.  

There is an important distinction, however: Disney has not yet publicly announced a full cast or production start date.

The current confirmation comes from Turteltaub, so fans should view the project as significantly advanced but still subject to the realities of Hollywood development.

The Franchise Has Already Made More Than $800 Million

The original two National Treasure films demonstrated that the concept had considerable commercial appeal.

The 2004 movie earned approximately $347 million worldwide, while National Treasure: Book of Secrets followed with roughly $459 million worldwide.  

Combined, the two movies generated more than $800 million globally.

That performance gives Disney a substantial argument for bringing the franchise back to theaters, particularly at a time when recognizable properties and nostalgia-driven sequels continue to play an important role in the theatrical marketplace.

What Happened to Page 47?

One of the biggest unanswered questions surrounding a third movie is the mystery introduced at the end of Book of Secrets.

In that film, Ben and his team discover a mysterious document containing information identified as Page 47.

The contents are never revealed to the audience.

Instead, the movie ends by suggesting that the information could be extraordinarily important.

That cliffhanger has fueled fan speculation for years.

A third film would finally provide the opportunity to pay off one of the franchise’s longest-running mysteries.

The Road to National Treasure 3 Has Been Anything but Easy

The project has been discussed for years.

Writers have come and gone, scripts have been developed and reworked, and Disney has previously expressed concerns about different versions of the story.

The long development period eventually became one of the most famous examples of Hollywood “development hell.”

Even Cage previously expressed skepticism about the possibility of returning.

In 2022, while answering fan questions, Cage said the priority had shifted toward a television series and suggested that a third movie was unlikely.  

That television project eventually became National Treasure: Edge of History, which premiered on Disney+ in 2022 but was canceled after one season.

Now the franchise appears to be returning to the format that made it successful in the first place.

Why the Timing Could Be Right

The return of National Treasure comes during a period when Hollywood is increasingly looking back at recognizable properties.

Studios have been reviving dormant franchises, developing legacy sequels and bringing original stars back to roles audiences remember.

For Disney, National Treasure offers something slightly different from a traditional superhero or animated franchise.

It is an adventure franchise built around American history, puzzles, secret societies and hidden treasures.

That formula could potentially appeal to families and older fans who grew up with the original movies.

The Original Formula Could Be the Key

One reason the first two films worked was their ability to combine real historical references with larger-than-life adventure.

The original movie centered on the Declaration of Independence and the Knights Templar treasure, turning American history into the foundation for a globe-spanning treasure hunt. Disney’s official description identifies Ben Gates as a history-obsessed treasure hunter pursuing the legendary Knights Templar fortune.  

The sequel expanded the formula by introducing another historical mystery involving the U.S. government and a secret book containing centuries of information.  

A third movie has the opportunity to continue that tradition while introducing a mystery large enough to justify bringing the characters back nearly 20 years later.

Could More Original Cast Members Return?

Turteltaub has suggested that the goal is to bring back as many familiar faces as possible.

That could potentially open the door to returning franchise favorites including Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Jon Voight and Helen Mirren, although individual casting commitments have not been fully announced.  

For audiences, the chemistry among the original cast was an important part of the franchise’s appeal.

Ben Gates was never working alone.

His adventures involved a team of historians, technicians, family members and unlikely allies, creating opportunities for humor alongside the action.

A third movie that reunites that group could have considerably more nostalgic appeal than a complete reboot.

Disney Has Not Announced a Release Date

Despite the encouraging news, fans shouldn’t expect National Treasure 3 to arrive immediately.

There is currently no announced theatrical release date, and production has not been publicly confirmed as underway.

A completed or approved screenplay is a major milestone, but the project still has to move through casting, scheduling, budgeting, production and post-production.

Turteltaub’s own comments acknowledge that the project remains vulnerable to the normal uncertainties of Hollywood development.  

A Theatrical Return Could Be Significant

If Disney ultimately gives National Treasure 3 a major theatrical release, it could become an interesting test of the modern appetite for legacy adventure movies.

The franchise doesn’t have the same massive global footprint as Star Wars or the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

But it has something equally valuable in the current marketplace:

A recognizable character, a returning star and an established audience that has been waiting for nearly 20 years.

Cage’s return could also give the movie a marketing hook that a reboot would not have.

For audiences who saw the original films in theaters, seeing Cage back as Ben Gates could turn the third installment into a genuine nostalgia event.

The Treasure Hunt May Finally Continue

After years of uncertainty, National Treasure 3 has finally moved beyond the stage of being simply a movie fans hope will happen.

There is a screenplay that Turteltaub believes in.

Disney reportedly likes the direction.

And Nicolas Cage is expected to return as Ben Gates.

That’s not the same as saying cameras are rolling—but it is considerably more progress than fans have had in years.

The biggest remaining questions are now just as tantalizing as the original mysteries:

What is on Page 47?

Where will Ben Gates go next?

And perhaps most importantly:

Can National Treasure recapture the magic that made audiences want a third adventure in the first place?

For now, the treasure hunt is back on.