National Treasure 3 Is Officially Happening, Director Confirms

What did Jon Turteltaub actually say?

Speaking to a live audience at a taping of the National Treasure Hunt podcast, Turteltaub said plainly, "It's happening. You're the first people I have said this out loud to." He added, "I have not said anything before this, but you deserve to have the scoop. It's finally real." He was quick to add a caveat, though, joking, "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, that's Hollywood."

Is Nicolas Cage actually confirmed to return?

According to Turteltaub, yes, at least as far as intentions go. He said the studio plans to bring back "everyone, to whatever extent we can," including Cage as Benjamin Franklin Gates. This is a genuinely different tone than some of Cage's own past comments on the project, including a blunt 2024 statement telling ScreenRant, "there is no National Treasure 3," before producer Jerry Bruckheimer walked that back just weeks later.

Why has this taken so long, and why should we actually believe it this time?

The film has been "in development" in some form since at least 2020, with false starts going back even further. What's different this time is that there's an actual completed script both Turteltaub and Disney like, not just a writer attached or vague studio interest. Turteltaub also offered a specific, somewhat unexpected explanation for part of the long delay, describing how the franchise got unexpectedly caught up in political polarization over the years, with figures on both sides questioning whether the original films' patriotic themes belonged to their side or not, complicating how comfortable the studio felt moving forward with a franchise this explicitly tied to American history and symbolism.

What happened to the Disney+ spinoff series?

National Treasure: Edge of History, a Disney+ series starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, released in 2022 as a spinoff rather than a true continuation of the film franchise. It ran for a single season and wasn't renewed, meaning it doesn't appear to factor directly into whatever story the new film script actually tells.

Is there any word on plot, release date, or additional returning cast?

Not yet. Turteltaub didn't share story details, and no release date or production start has been confirmed. Given the film still needs to move from a completed script into actual production, a realistic release is likely still a couple of years out at minimum.

Why does this franchise still have such a dedicated fanbase almost 20 years after the last film?

The original 2004 film and 2007's Book of Secrets combined for roughly 800 million dollars worldwide, but the numbers alone don't fully explain the loyalty. The Philadelphia weekend where this announcement happened was itself built entirely around fan devotion, a sold-out tour of filming locations, a screening of Book of Secrets, and a podcast dedicated specifically to combing over the franchise's lore. That kind of grassroots, ongoing fan investment two decades after the last film is genuinely rare for a franchise that never continued as a regular series.

Frequently asked questions

Is National Treasure 3 officially confirmed? Director Jon Turteltaub says the project has a Disney-approved script and is moving forward, though no release date or production start has been announced.

Is Nicolas Cage returning for National Treasure 3? According to Turteltaub, yes, with plans to bring back the original cast "to whatever extent" possible.

When did the last National Treasure film come out? National Treasure: Book of Secrets released in 2007, nearly 20 years before this announcement.

Is National Treasure: Edge of History connected to National Treasure 3? Not directly. The Disney+ series was a separate spinoff that ran for one season and wasn't renewed.

Want to revisit the earlier films before the sequel eventually arrives?

Our movie recommendation quiz can help you find something in a similar adventure register while you wait for more news.