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23 Aug 2026, 9:29 am

It has been four years since producer Jerry Bruckheimer teased a third film in the National Treasure franchise, starring Nicolas Cage. However, there has been no real development of the film since then. Not everything is gloomy if you are a fan of the adventure franchise, though, because director Jon Turteltaub has revealed in a recent conversation that National Treasure 3 is finally happening.

Speaking on the podcast National Treasure Hunt, Turteltaub said, "It’s happening," referring to the third film. He added, "I have not said anything before this, but you deserve to have the scoop. It’s finally real."

Jon Turteltaub also said jokingly that only unprecedented events, such as Nicolas Cage getting into an accident, could prevent the film. "Now, it’s ‘Hollywood real,’ meaning things could happen. Nic gets hit by a bus, there’s no National Treasure 3," the director said before humorously adding that the project might happen even if he gets involved in such an accident.

Confirming the development of a screenplay for the film, the director said, "to whatever extent we can, everyone’s back."

After its 2004 release, National Treasure earned a gross collection of $347 million at the global box office, according to Variety. It stars Cage alongside Diane Kruger as historians who get involved in a plan to steal a treasure map that the Freemasons buried a long time ago. The first film's cast also includes Justin Bartha, Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel, and Sean Bean.

The second part, National Treasure: The Book of Secrets, hit theatres three years later and earned a reported collection of $459 million at the worldwide box office. Disney released a series based on the franchise, titled Edge of History, back in 2022, but it only ran for a single season.