National Treasure 3: Nicolas Cage Denies Involvement in New Movie

This news is sure to spark some discussion! In August of this year, director Jon Turteltaub revealed in an interview that "National Treasure 3", starring Nicolas Cage, is indeed in the works. But don't get your hopes up just yet: According to The Hollywood Reporter, Cage denied his involvement in the new film at New York Comic-Con.

The actor emphasized that he hasn't committed yet and wants to wait and see if the project can win him over at all. A definitive rejection sounds different, though. Cage doesn't seem to be ruling out a return, at least not outright. The star even floated a suggestion for a possible plot himself – albeit obviously with a wink. According to this, Ben Gates could set out in the third film to search for the Epstein files. Such a story, he noted, is at least relevant right now. The so-called Epstein files comprise a large volume of documents and other material from investigations and court proceedings surrounding Jeffrey Epstein.

Epstein, who died in pretrial detention in 2019, was a convicted sex offender and had numerous connections to well-known figures in politics, business, and society. But let's be honest: it's virtually out of the question that Disney would use this, of all things, as the basis for a new "National Treasure" movie. So the future of "National Treasure 3" remains uncertain for now.

The Previous National Treasure Movies

Before there was any talk of a possible third installment, Nicolas Cage had already embarked on two major treasure hunts as Benjamin Franklin Gates. It all began in 2004 with "National Treasure", directed by Jon Turteltaub. In it, Cage plays historian and treasure hunter Ben Gates, who follows a family tradition: For generations, the Gates have been convinced that a vast treasure is hidden somewhere in the U.S. The crucial clue is said to be found, of all places, on the back of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. When Ben realizes that his former partner, Ian Howe, is also after the document, he hatches a rather unusual plan: He intends to steal the Declaration of Independence himself before it falls into the hands of his adversaries.

Together with his tech-savvy friend Riley Poole and archivist Abigail Chase, Ben then embarks on a scavenger hunt through American history. The film combines classic adventure entertainment with historical mysteries, conspiracy theories, and plenty of action. In addition to Nicolas Cage, the cast includes Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Sean Bean, Jon Voight, and Harvey Keitel, among others. The film was a huge box office success, grossing over $300 million worldwide.

Just three years later, the sequel, "Nation Treasure: Book of Secrets ", followed. This time, the Gates family's own history becomes the starting point for the adventure. A previously unknown document suggests that Ben's ancestor, Thomas Gates, may have been involved in the conspiracy surrounding the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. To clear his family's name, Ben once again sets out in search of historical clues.

This time, his journey even takes him beyond the borders of the United States. Among other locations, Buckingham Palace and Paris play a role before the search ultimately continues back in the United States. Of particular importance is the eponymous secret book of the president, which is said to contain some of the greatest secrets of American history. Numerous well-known actors returned for the second film, while Ed Harris joined the cast as the antagonist Mitch Wilkinson. "Book of Secrets" also proved to be a financial success, significantly outperforming its predecessor at the global box office.