When National Treasure landed in theaters in 2004, it became an immediate success, topping The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie at the domestic box office by about $2 million. Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, and Justin Bartha not only stole the Declaration of Independence, but also viewers’ hearts. It grossed just shy of $350 million at the worldwide box office, and despite poor critical reception, it became a fan-favorite live-action Disney original movie. The film’s popularity spawned a sequel announcement the following year, and National Treasure: Book of Secrets was later released in 2007. Despite performing even worse with critics, the movie exploded at the box office with nearly $460 million worldwide. The puzzle box thriller remains adored to this day, with many still hoping for a National Treasure 3.
However, despite fans clamoring for a third film, Cage has suggested that it won’t be happening. Luckily, the tides have turned since Cage’s comment as director of the first two films, Jon Turteltaub, confirmed on the National Treasure Hunt podcast that a third film is in development. He also confirmed Cage’s interest in returning, pending that they can get all the right pieces in place. Additionally, a plethora of other cast members have also shared their interest in returning, setting the stage for National Treasure 3 to hopefully become a reality.
‘National Treasure 3’ Cast: Which Actors Want to Return?
While the production of National Treasure 3 obviously depends on a strong script and the return of Cage, other cast members being willing to return certainly doesn’t hurt. Bartha has already proven he’s willing to come back as Riley Poole after his cameo in the Disney+ series National Treasure: Edge of History. Screenwriter Ted Elliot also confirmed on the National Treasure Hunt podcast that Cage, Bartha, and Kruger would also be asked to return for the third film, should it happen.
Although the main trio is the glue that holds the franchise together, there have been plenty of great performances from supporting roles as well. A multitude of cast members have been very local with the National Treasure Hunt podcast about their interest in returning to the franchise, including:
- Bruce Greenwood as the President of the United States
- “Absolutely, I’ll be there. All that has to happen is, you know, [the President] was voted out and got back in somehow because years have passed.”
- Timothy V. Murphy as Seth (villain in Book of Secrets)
- “Yeah. I’d love to be part of it…If I was brought back, I’d like to be down in the bayou skinning an alligator or something, and I get a call to do something bad, basically.”
- Alicia Coppola as FBI Agent Spellman
- “Absolutely. Yes. And I want to go everywhere that they go.”
- David Dayan Fisher as Shaw (villain in National Treasure)
- “When I knew that they were doing National Treasure 2…I said, ‘You need to write me in as Shaw’s twin…What about Shaw’s ghost?’…I said, ‘Well, you can write the character and I’ll come in completely disguised.'”
- Stewart Finlay-McLennan as Powell (villain in National Treasure)
- “If you note the [first] movie, [my character] was never captured. I disappeared…Depends on the role, and I’d want to see the script up front…That said, of course [I would return].”
- Michael Maize as Daniel (villain in Book of Secrets)
- “In a heartbeat; yes…I remember Tim [Murphy] and I, we’ve talked about that many different times because we’re not dead! We were in jail. And it’s 20 years later, so I don’t think we’d have been in jail that long.”
- Oleg Taktarov as Viktor Shippen (villain in National Treasure)
- “I would not [have to] think twice [about returning].”
- Stephen Pope as Phil (villain in National Treasure)
- “Yeah, man!…My character only went to jail, man. I could get let out of jail.”
With the wide variety of cast members from both films willing to return, there’s plenty of opportunity for a third film that sees the stories of the previous installments come crashing together, combining the two casts.
Will ‘National Treasure 3’ Happen?
As National Treasure fans avidly wait for updates on a completed script, the signs certainly point to National Treasure 3 coming to fruition, as the film is currently in early development. Despite National Treasure: Edge of History being a relative failure for Disney+, there’s no doubt that reuniting Cage, Kruger, and Bartha as Ben, Abigail, and Riley would certainly reignite interest in the franchise.
It’s unlikely that the film will be released within the next few years, as the script remains incomplete and none of the cast members have officially signed on. Therefore, fans would be looking at 2028 or 2029 at the absolute earliest that National Treasure 3 could possibly debut in theaters. In the meantime, National Treasure fans can stream the franchise on Disney+ and keep hope alive that there are more puzzles for Benjamin Gates to solve again in the future.
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