It’s been nearly 20 years since audiences last saw Nicolas Cage find the lost city of gold under Mount Rushmore (yes, that’s how dumb these movies are) as Ben Gates, but National Treasure 3 may finally be closer to reality. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer has given a long-awaited update on the adventure franchise, confirming that development is ongoing and hinting that both Cage and director Jon Turteltaub are expected to return.

The first National Treasure debuted in 2004 and quickly became one of Cage’s most beloved roles, and one of his few family-friendly ones at that. Its 2007 sequel, Book of Secrets, expanded the mythology and ended on a major cliffhanger tied to page 47 of the President’s Book (what is ON THAT PAGE?). While fans have been clamoring for answers ever since, momentum on a third film stalled as Disney pivoted toward streaming with National Treasure: Edge of History, a short-lived spinoff series Cage did not appear in.

According to Bruckheimer, however, the series did help keep the franchise alive, ensuring that the treasure-hunting saga stayed in the public eye. He explained that the goal was to keep the brand relevant until the right time for another film arrived. Now, that time may finally be on the horizon.

Will Nicolas Cage Return for National Treasure 3?

While Bruckheimer’s comments are encouraging, Cage has been publicly doubtful about the sequel’s chances. Back in March, the actor candidly told ScreenRant:

“No, there is no National Treasure 3. If you want to find treasure, don’t look at Disney, okay? It’s not there.”

That blunt assessment was at odds with earlier updates from Turteltaub and screenwriter Ted Elliot, who revealed that a first draft of the script was completed in 2024 and included Ben, Abigail (Diane Kruger), and Riley (Justin Bartha), but fortunately Buckheimer’s latest remarks suggest that work on the project hasn’t stalled in the months since, and more importantly, that Cage may have softened his stance about returning.

If a script is finalized in the near future, cameras likely wouldn’t roll until 2026, pushing any release into 2027 or 2028 at the earliest. That timeline means fans are still in for a long wait, but the fact that Bruckheimer is openly teasing Cage’s involvement is a promising sign.

National Treasure is streaming now on Disney+.

via Collider