If you were hoping for National Treasure 3, you might want to start praying for something different if star Nicolas Cage‘s recent comments to ScreenRant are anything to go by. In an exclusive interview, Cage was asked about the development of the film, and it’s fair to say he wasn’t best thrilled about being asked, as he felt the headline would eclipse the project he was there to talk about. The news is disappointing as producer Jerry Bruckheimer had previously confirmed that a script had been written, but Cage‘s comments appear to pour cold water on the prospects of it ever seeing the light of day. He said:
“Here we go! See, you’re the one that brings these things up, and they go out and they eclipse everything else. No, there is no National Treasure 3. If you want to find treasure, don’t look at Disney, okay? It’s not there.”
The news is disappointing to fans as a clear sequel had been set up in 2007’s Book of Secrets when Cage‘s Benjamin Franklin Gates kidnaps the U.S. President (portrayed by Bruce Greenwood) to unearth secrets from the legendary Book. The President acknowledges the Book’s reality, offering hints on its location, and intriguingly advises inspecting Page 47. This clue reemerges at the climax — post-treasure discovery — when the President inquires if Page 47 was examined. Affirming, Gates reveals the page’s contents as life-altering, sparking fan excitement and leaving his allies, Riley Poole (Justin Bartha) and Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger), bewildered.
How Successful Are the ‘National Treasure’ Movies?
National Treasure captivated audiences with its blend of historical mysteries and modern adventure, leading to an impressive box office tally of approximately $173 million. This success laid the groundwork for the franchise’s continuation, which saw its next major leap with the sequel, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, in 2007. This follow-up not only retained the original’s engaging formula of treasure hunts entwined with historical events and symbols but also managed to elevate the franchise’s financial success. Book of Secrets outperformed its predecessor by garnering around $220 million in box office revenue. A spin-off series, entitled National Treasure: Edge of History would follow, but it was cancelled after just one season.
Cage can next be seen in Arcadian, as a middle-aged father trying to protect his sons from the apocalypse. The actor will also feature in the upcoming thriller The Surfer and horror-thriller Longlegs. So, while National Treasure fans may devastated by the crushing news of no more films, fans of Cage’s recent work can celebrate the fact that he continues to find roles in interesting projects.
National Treasure is available to stream on Disney+.
via Collider