Mumbai, August 23 - After nearly two decades of waiting, National Treasure 3 is finally moving forward. Director Jon Turteltaub, who helmed both previous instalments of the adventure franchise, has confirmed that the long-discussed third film is now officially in development, giving fans their strongest indication yet that Benjamin Gates is finally returning to the big screen.
Turteltaub announced a live recording of the National Treasure Hunt podcast in Philadelphia, revealing that the project now has a screenplay that has been approved by both him and Disney. The filmmaker described the movie as being "Hollywood real," acknowledging that plans can still change before cameras actually begin rolling. However, he made it clear that the project has progressed significantly compared with the years of speculation surrounding the sequel.
The biggest news for fans is the expected return of Nicolas Cage as Benjamin Franklin Gates. Cage led the first two films as the history-loving treasure hunter, and Turteltaub indicated that the filmmakers hope to bring back as much of the original cast as possible. While a formal cast announcement and production schedule are yet to be revealed, the director's comments suggest that the third film is being developed with the original team and characters in mind.
One of the biggest questions surrounding National Treasure 3 is whether the film will finally reveal the secret behind Page 47. National Treasure: Book of Secrets ended with the President asking Ben Gates to read Page 47 of the President's secret book, with Ben describing its contents as potentially life-changing. The mystery has remained unresolved since the 2007 sequel and has become one of the franchise's most enduring unanswered questions.
The National Treasure franchise began with the 2004 film, followed by National Treasure: Book of Secrets in 2007. Despite the success of both movies and years of fan demand, a third theatrical instalment remained stuck in development for nearly 20 years, with even a Disney+ spin-off failing to lead directly to another movie. Now, with Turteltaub confirming that Disney has approved a script, the long-awaited treasure hunt appears closer than ever to becoming a reality. A release date and production start date have not yet been announced.
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