National Treasure 3 Is Finally Happening — Nicolas Cage May Return

National Treasure 3 is finally starting to feel real. Nearly two decades after Nicolas Cage last played treasure hunter Benjamin Gates on the big screen, the long-awaited third movie is now officially in development.

Director Jon Turteltaub has confirmed that a screenplay for National Treasure 3 has been written and approved by both him and Disney.

And there’s even better news for fans of the original movies: Nicolas Cage is expected to return as Benjamin Gates.

National Treasure 3 Is Finally Happening

For years, National Treasure 3 has been one of those Hollywood projects that fans kept asking about but never seemed to get a definitive answer on.

Now, that has changed.

Director Jon Turteltaub has confirmed that the third installment is officially in the works, giving fans the strongest indication yet that Benjamin Gates could finally return to the big screen.

The news is particularly exciting because the original National Treasure became one of Nicolas Cage’s most recognizable blockbuster roles.

The franchise combined historical mysteries, hidden clues, secret societies and massive American landmarks into a formula that was surprisingly addictive.

Is Nicolas Cage Returning for National Treasure 3?

This is the question fans really want answered.

According to Turteltaub’s latest comments, Nicolas Cage is expected to return as Benjamin Gates, although fans should remember that the movie is still in development and plans can change before production begins.

Cage’s return would be a major deal for the franchise.

Benjamin Gates isn’t just another character in the series. He is the personality around which the entire National Treasure adventure was built.

Without Cage, a third movie would feel very different.

With Cage back, however, Disney has the opportunity to bring the original formula into a completely new era.

Why Fans Have Waited So Long for National Treasure 3

The first National Treasure movie arrived in 2004.

Nicolas Cage played Benjamin Gates, a historian and treasure hunter who discovers clues pointing toward a legendary hidden treasure.

The movie became a major box-office success and developed a loyal audience despite receiving mixed reviews from critics.

Disney followed it with National Treasure: Book of Secrets in 2007.

That movie expanded the mythology and left audiences with plenty of unanswered questions.

Then came the long wait.

Nearly 20 Years Later, Benjamin Gates Could Be Back

One of the strangest things about the National Treasure franchise is just how much time has passed since the last movie.

Book of Secrets was released in 2007.

That means an eventual third movie would arrive almost two decades after audiences last saw Cage’s Benjamin Gates leading a major treasure hunt.

But that huge gap could actually work in the movie’s favor.

Hollywood has become increasingly interested in bringing familiar franchises back for audiences who grew up with them.

And National Treasure has something many older franchises don’t: a built-in mystery that fans still want solved.

What Could National Treasure 3 Be About?

This is where things become much more mysterious.

There is currently no official plot synopsis for National Treasure 3, so fans will have to wait before learning what Benjamin Gates’ next treasure hunt will involve.

But the franchise has already established a simple formula: take a piece of history, hide an enormous secret inside it and make Benjamin Gates follow a trail of increasingly difficult clues.

That formula could take the story almost anywhere.

A new movie could explore another forgotten American mystery, travel across multiple countries or even connect historical events that audiences have never seen explored in the franchise.

Will the Original Cast Return?

Nicolas Cage isn’t the only familiar face fans will be watching for.

The original movies featured a cast that included Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Jon Voight and Helen Mirren.

Turteltaub has indicated that much of the original cast could return, although there is still plenty that has not been officially finalized.

Bringing several familiar actors back would make the third movie feel like a genuine continuation rather than simply another film using the National Treasure name.

What About National Treasure: Edge of History?

Disney already attempted to expand the franchise with the television series National Treasure: Edge of History.

The series introduced a new group of characters and attempted to take the treasure-hunting concept in another direction.

But the show’s cancellation left fans wondering whether the movie franchise would ever return.

The confirmation of National Treasure 3 changes that conversation completely.

The movie would bring the franchise back to the character most fans associate with it: Benjamin Gates.

Why Nicolas Cage’s Return Matters So Much

Nicolas Cage has gone through several very different phases in his career.

He has starred in prestige dramas, giant Hollywood blockbusters, independent movies and some wonderfully strange projects that became cult favorites.

But Benjamin Gates remains one of the roles that introduced him to a younger generation of movie fans.

That’s why the possibility of seeing Cage back in the role has created so much excitement.

For many fans, National Treasure 3 isn’t simply another sequel.

It’s a chance to revisit a movie series they grew up watching.

Could National Treasure 3 Become a Huge Hit?

It’s far too early to predict the box office because the movie doesn’t even have a confirmed release date yet.

But the franchise has several advantages.

First, there is strong nostalgia for the original films.

Second, Nicolas Cage returning gives the movie a recognizable star at the center of the story.

And third, the basic concept remains incredibly easy to market: hidden treasure, historical secrets and Nicolas Cage chasing clues.

That’s a combination that could attract both longtime fans and people discovering the franchise for the first time.

The Biggest Question Is Still the Release Date

There is one important piece of information fans don’t have yet: when National Treasure 3 will actually arrive.

The project is still in development, so a theatrical release date has not been announced.

That means fans should be careful with social-media posts claiming a specific release date unless Disney officially confirms it.

For now, the important news is simply that the project has moved another step forward.

Could National Treasure 3 Solve the Mystery of Page 47?

This is the question that longtime fans will immediately remember.

National Treasure: Book of Secrets ended with a major tease involving the mysterious Page 47.

The movie never fully revealed what the page contained, leaving fans with one of the franchise’s biggest unanswered mysteries.

A third movie would have the perfect opportunity to finally address it.

Whether Page 47 actually becomes part of the new story remains unknown, but it would certainly be one of the easiest ways to connect the new adventure with the original movies.

National Treasure Fans Finally Have Something to Celebrate

After years of rumors, uncertainty and false starts, there is finally something substantial for fans to talk about.

National Treasure 3 is in development.

The screenplay has been approved by the director and Disney, Nicolas Cage is expected to return and the original filmmakers are once again discussing the future of the franchise.

There are still plenty of unanswered questions, including the final cast, story details, production schedule and release date.

But after waiting nearly 20 years, fans probably won’t complain about having to wait a little longer for the details.

What Happens Next for National Treasure 3?

The next major milestone will be getting the project into production.

Once Disney confirms the cast, filming schedule and release plans, we’ll have a much clearer picture of what Benjamin Gates’ next adventure will look like.

Until then, fans have one very important piece of news: the treasure hunt isn’t over yet.

And if Nicolas Cage really does return as Benjamin Gates, the third National Treasure movie could end up being one of Hollywood’s biggest nostalgia-driven releases.