National Treasure 3 is moving forward, but Nicolas Cage has not signed on to return as Benjamin Gates. Director Jon Turteltaub says the movie is happening and has a script he likes. Disney has not announced filming or a release date, so Cage’s involvement remains the biggest unanswered question now.
What Is the Latest National Treasure 3 Update?
Image © 2007 Robert Zuckerman / Disney Enterprises, Inc. and Jerry Bruckheimer, Inc.
National Treasure 3 is moving forward creatively, but Nicolas Cage has not signed on to return as historian Ben Gates. Director Jon Turteltaub says the third movie is “finally real” and has a script he likes, yet Disney has not announced filming or a release date. That leaves the project in an unusual place: the sequel has momentum, but its most important star is still undecided.
Why Hasn’t Nicolas Cage Signed On for National Treasure 3 Yet?
Nicolas Cage directly addressed the situation at New York Comic Con after Turteltaub had spoken confidently about his return. The actor made clear that no deal was in place, even though he did not completely close the door on another National Treasure movie.
- Cage’s response: He said, “No, I didn’t sign up for that.”
- His joke: Cage added, “You got to get these microphones out of these directors’ hands.”
- Still possible: He also said, “We’ll see if I want to get together with it.”
- Turteltaub’s view: The director has said Cage is essential, joking, “Nic gets hit by a bus; there’s no National Treasure.”
- Other cast members: Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, and Jon Voight have been discussed as hoped-for returns, but a full cast reunion is not confirmed.
- Plot joke: Cage joked that Ben Gates should go after the Epstein files, but that is not an official story.
How Far Along Is National Treasure 3?
Turteltaub has been much more confident about the third installment itself. During an August 2026 live recording of the National Treasure Hunt podcast in Philadelphia, he told the live audience that the movie had finally reached a meaningful stage after nearly two decades of waiting.
- His announcement: Turteltaub said, “It’s happening.”
- His caution: He added, “It’s finally real. Now, it’s ‘Hollywood real,’ meaning things could happen.”
- Script status: Turteltaub said he finally has “a script I like.”
- Disney reaction: He said Disney responded, “OK, this sounds like a movie we can make.”
- Still missing: There is no confirmed production start, filming location, release year, or theatrical date.
- Franchise history: The first film arrived in 2004, followed by National Treasure: Book of Secrets in 2007.
- Bottom line: The treasure hunt may be getting closer, but Cage, the final cast, and production schedule still need to be locked in place.
Final Thoughts
National Treasure 3 has made real progress after nearly two decades of development, but fans still need to wait for firm production news. The adventure franchise remains a valuable part of Disney movies, with the first two films earning strong global box office totals. For now, Nicolas Cage and the final cast are not locked.
FAQs
Director Jon Turteltaub says the third film is “happening” and has a script he likes, although Walt Disney has not announced a production start.
No, National Treasure 3 has not been released, and there is currently no confirmed theatrical date.
National Treasure 3 was not officially canceled; the project spent years in development while the franchise also expanded with the Disney+ TV series National Treasure: Edge of History, which ended after one season.
No confirmed filming has started, and Disney has not revealed when cameras will begin rolling.
Cage has not signed on, although he has left the door open to returning as Ben Gates, whose first adventure involved stealing the Declaration of Independence to protect it.