Director Jon Turteltaub confirms National Treasure 3 script is in development at Disney

Announcement in Philadelphia

Director Jon Turteltaub confirmed that a third National Treasure film is actively moving forward at Walt Disney Studios. Speaking on 21 August 2026 during a live taping of the National Treasure Hunt podcast in Philadelphia, the director told attendees celebrating the original 2004 film that they were the first public audience to hear the update. Turteltaub stated that he and Disney executives have both agreed on a script they like enough to proceed toward a full feature production. The announcement follows years of project dormancy after Disney initially greenlit development on a third installment more than six years ago.

I have not said anything before this, but you deserve to have the scoop. It's finally real. Now, it's Hollywood real, meaning things could happen. Nic gets hit by a bus, there's no National Treasure 3. If I get hit by a bus, there's probably a National Treasure 3. Welcome to Hollywood.

Cast intentions and studio interest

Turteltaub confirmed his intention to reunite as much of the original cast as possible for the third installment, noting that plans call for bringing back key actors to whatever extent possible. The original 2004 ensemble featured Nicolas Cage as historian Benjamin Franklin Gates, alongside Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Sean Bean, Jon Voight, and Harvey Keitel. Representatives for Disney and Cage did not immediately issue comments following the Philadelphia remarks. Studio interest in reviving the property aligns with Disney's wider strategy of revisiting established intellectual property, including recent work on The Devil Wears Prada 2 and the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Cage has also maintained a prominent profile through recent projects such as Longlegs and Spider-Noir.

Franchise box office history

The original National Treasure opened in cinemas in 2004, earning $347 million in worldwide box office revenue. The story followed Cage and Kruger as historians seeking to safeguard the United States Declaration of Independence, which secretly served as a map to hidden Freemason treasure. Its 2007 sequel, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, expanded the commercial footprint by earning $459 million globally. Disney subsequently attempted to broaden the franchise by releasing the television series National Treasure: Edge of History on the Disney+ streaming service in 2022. That television series was canceled after a single season.

Thematic focus in modern storytelling

Plot details for the third film remain undisclosed, though Turteltaub stated that the project must engage thoughtfully with the contemporary political and cultural climate in the United States. The director explained that debates surrounding historical records and national memory cannot simply be bypassed in a modern adventure narrative. He emphasized that the creative team is working to integrate these themes without alienating viewers across differing viewpoints. Formal production schedules, filming start dates, and theatrical release windows have not been officially set by Disney.

We have to be very careful, but I don't feel we are allowed to ignore it. I think we have to include that idea in the story somehow without making someone feel put off.