Nicolas Cage addresses the chances of National Treasure 3 happening after the proposed third movie has languished in development hell. The Oscar winner stars in the action-adventure franchise as Benjamin Franklin Gates, a treasure hunter whose family has long sought after a legendary hidden fortune of the Founding Fathers of the USA and Freemasons. Gates seeks out to prove his family to be more than conspiracy theorists and help preserve history's lost valuables.
Launching in 2004, the National Treasure franchise has generally received mixed reviews from critics for its improbable premise and repetitive formula between the two films, though the performances from its cast and action sequences have received generally positive reception. The films have also been financial hits for Disney, with the first grossing over $347 million against its $100 million budget while the second grossed over $459 million against its $130 million budget. Development on a third National Treasure first kicked off in 2008 after the success of its sequel but after over a decade of work it appears it may not be any closer to getting off the ground.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Nicolas Cage opened up about the chances of National Treasure 3 happening. Comparing it to his uncertainty about returning for Face/Off 2, Cage says he's not heard any updates about the threequel and is doubtful it will get off the ground. See what Cage shared below:
"So often these things we read about are just conjecture without any base or foundation to it. I feel the same about National Treasure 3. It's been 14 years. There's no there, there. So, is it fun to think about? Sure."
Cage's doubts of National Treasure 3 getting off the ground are sure to come as a disappointment to fans of the adventure franchise but may not come as much of a surprise. As the actor notes, it's been 14 years since development on the threequel was first announced to be underway, and though director/producer Jon Turteltaub said the writers behind the films would take their time on the third film, they seemed to still be struggling with finding the right angle for the story. Several scripts have reportedly been completed for National Treasure 3 over the years, though none to the satisfaction of Disney, while a new version from Chris Bremner is reportedly in the works as of early 2020.
Cage isn't the only one to express uncertainty in National Treasure 3 being made as co-star Diane Kruger recently confirmed she hadn't heard any updates on its development and was concerned the cast members' ages would make it tougher to shoot the film. Despite a third film seemingly less and less likely, the franchise isn't entirely dead as a TV series is currently in the works for Disney+ centered on a young Latina protagonist, though whether the show is connected to the films is unknown at the time of writing. In the meantime, audiences can revisit the first two National Treasure movies streaming on Disney+ now.
Source: THR