National Treasure 3 Is Finally Moving Forward — Nicolas Cage Set to Return as Benjamin Gates

After nearly two decades of waiting, Disney’s beloved treasure-hunting franchise is finally heading toward a third adventure, with director Jon Turteltaub confirming that National Treasure 3 is now moving forward and Nicolas Cage expected to reprise his iconic role.

For years, National Treasure 3 existed in the strange space between Hollywood rumor and fan wish list.

Now, that may finally be changing.

Director Jon Turteltaub, who helmed both previous National Treasure movies, has confirmed that the long-awaited third installment is moving forward. During a live recording of the National Treasure Hunt podcast in Philadelphia, Turteltaub revealed that the project has reached a much more serious stage, describing it as “finally real” — while also giving the usual Hollywood warning that plans can still change.

Most importantly for fans, Nicolas Cage is expected to return as treasure hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates, the character who became the face of the franchise.

The Treasure Hunt Isn’t Over

The original National Treasure arrived in 2004, introducing audiences to Benjamin Gates, a historian and treasure hunter who becomes convinced that an enormous hidden treasure is connected to America’s founding history.

The film combined historical mysteries, secret societies, coded messages and a race against time — all wrapped around one particularly unforgettable idea: stealing the Declaration of Independence to find a hidden clue.

The formula worked.

The first movie earned approximately $347 million worldwide, leading Disney to produce National Treasure: Book of Secrets in 2007. The sequel performed even better commercially, taking in roughly $459 million worldwide.

And then the franchise seemingly disappeared.

Why Did It Take So Long?

The wait for a third movie became one of Hollywood’s longest-running sequel stories.

Over the years, filmmakers and producers repeatedly discussed another installment, but the project struggled to reach the finish line.

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer provided a significant update earlier this year, saying the project was progressing and that the team was working on the screenplay.

Turteltaub’s latest announcement, however, represents a considerably bigger step.

According to the director, there is now a script that he likes and that Disney has responded positively to. He also indicated that the intention is to bring back as much of the original cast as possible.

Nicolas Cage’s Benjamin Gates Could Be Back

For fans, no casting announcement matters more than the return of Benjamin Gates.

Nicolas Cage’s performance was central to the identity of the first two films, with his eccentric energy helping give the character a distinctive personality.

Recent reports indicate that Cage is set to return, although the project’s exact casting and production details are still developing. Turteltaub has spoken publicly about bringing the original cast back “to whatever extent we can,” while other reports have described Cage’s return as part of the plan.

If the reunion comes together, audiences could once again see Cage leading a team through another elaborate historical mystery.

Could the Original Team Reunite?

The possibility extends beyond Cage.

The first two movies featured Diane Kruger as Abigail Chase and Justin Bartha as Riley Poole, alongside actors including Jon Voight and Harvey Keitel.

Turteltaub has expressed a desire to bring back the original players wherever possible, though there is currently no complete official cast list for the third film.

That leaves plenty of room for speculation.

Could Abigail return to the hunt?

Will Riley once again provide the technological expertise — and comic relief?

And what about the unresolved mysteries that have been sitting with fans since Book of Secrets?

The Mystery of Page 47

One of the biggest unfinished threads from the second movie is Page 47.

At the end of National Treasure: Book of Secrets, President Abraham Lincoln’s diary leads Benjamin Gates toward a mysterious page containing information that could potentially change everything.

The movie deliberately never reveals exactly what is written on it.

For almost two decades, fans have wondered whether a third film would finally explain the mystery.

Now that National Treasure 3 is actually moving forward, Page 47 remains one of the most obvious pieces of unfinished business the filmmakers could revisit.

Whether it becomes part of the new story, however, remains unknown.

A Different Kind of National Treasure Story?

The world has changed considerably since the previous movie was released in 2007.

Interestingly, Turteltaub has suggested that the new film may have to acknowledge the political divisions of the modern United States.

The director has discussed how the franchise’s patriotic themes have become more complicated in today’s political environment and suggested that the third movie could incorporate those ideas without turning the adventure into a political film.

That could give the new installment an opportunity to modernize the franchise while retaining its central appeal: history, puzzles, conspiracies and a race toward something hidden.

There Is Still a Long Road Ahead

Despite the excitement, fans shouldn’t mistake the announcement for a completed movie.

National Treasure 3 has not begun filming and does not currently have an announced theatrical release date. The project remains in development, meaning the screenplay, casting, scheduling and production plans can still evolve.

Turteltaub himself has acknowledged that “Hollywood real” is different from a finished production — a humorous reminder that movies can change dramatically before cameras begin rolling.

Still, this is considerably more substantial than the vague sequel rumors fans have been hearing for years.

From 2004 to a New Era

The National Treasure franchise has already survived a remarkable amount of time.

The first movie introduced a modern treasure-hunting adventure built around American history. The second expanded the mythology, introduced the Page 47 mystery and proved that the series could remain commercially successful.

A Disney+ spinoff, National Treasure: Edge of History, later attempted to continue the property with a new generation of characters. The series premiered in 2022 but lasted only one season.

Now Disney appears ready to return to the formula that started everything.

Benjamin Gates.

Hidden history.

Impossible clues.

And, potentially, one more enormous treasure hunt.

The Gates Are Finally Opening Again

For fans who have spent years asking whether Nicolas Cage would ever return as Benjamin Gates, the latest news is the closest thing yet to the answer they have been waiting for.

There is a script.

Disney is on board.

Jon Turteltaub is returning to the world he helped create.

And Nicolas Cage is expected to step back into the role that defined the franchise.

There is still no release date, and production has not yet started. But after almost 20 years of uncertainty, National Treasure 3 is no longer just a fan dream.

The hunt is finally back on.

This article is independently written for this website. The film is currently in development, and production and release details remain subject to change. Nicolas Cage’s return is widely reported and has been indicated by director Jon Turteltaub, while a complete official cast announcement has not yet been made.