Fans of the 'National Treasure' films, which have collectively grossed over $800 million worldwide, have been eager for news regarding a potential third movie. Director Jon Turteltaub fueled this anticipation last August during a live podcast recording, where he confidently stated that 'National Treasure 3' was happening and that Nicolas Cage would reprise his iconic role as Benjamin Gates.
However, Cage himself delivered a dose of reality at a recent New York Comic Con panel, as reported by Allocine. The acclaimed actor, known for his eclectic filmography, directly addressed Turteltaub's comments with a blend of humor and exasperation.
"Jon Turteltaub just takes a microphone, goes to Philadelphia and announces: 'We're doing National Treasure 3, and Nic is going to be in it,'" Cage recounted, imitating the director. "And I said to myself, 'No, I didn't sign up for that.' You have to take these microphones out of these directors' hands!"
While Cage's remarks clearly indicated a lack of formal commitment, he didn't entirely close the door on the possibility. He added, "We'll see if I want to get into that," leaving a glimmer of hope for a future collaboration. Ever the showman, Cage even suggested a potential plotline that garnered a positive reaction from the audience, quipping, "Ben Gates tackling the Epstein files. Now that would be relevant. That's a movie I'll make." While a humorous aside, it underscored the actor's willingness to consider the project under the right circumstances.
The 'National Treasure' franchise, which began in 2004 with the original film and continued with 2007's 'National Treasure: Book of Secrets,' has remained a popular adventure series. Despite ongoing discussions and a Disney+ series spin-off ('National Treasure: Edge of History'), a third cinematic outing with Cage has yet to materialize. Cage's recent comments highlight the gap between a director's aspirations and an actor's contractual reality, indicating that significant hurdles remain before Benjamin Gates might embark on another treasure hunt.