It’s been almost a decade since we’ve seen an installment in Disney’s National Treasure series. There have been rumors of a third film in the series since shortly after National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets was released, but thus far rumor is all that it’s ever turned out to be. Well, it looks like the idea of a National Treasure 3 isn’t quite dead... yet.
As part of Disney’s annual shareholders meeting, Disney CEO Bob Iger was asked a question about whether or not we might ever see another film in the series. According to Comicbook.com, while he wasn’t able to confirm that the movie was coming, he did admit that the film is still being actively considered by both Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer.
We have done two, and yes they were really fine movies. I know Jerry Bruckheimer who produced them has had conversations with our studio a number of times about it, and there have been some developments along the way, but as of right now we have not green-lit as we say, a National Treasure 3. But I do know there is time and some resources spent on development. That's all I can tell ya.
Bob Iger’s response comes across as fairly straightforward, especially for a business executive. While he doesn’t say anything about how recently these "resources" were spent on development, the implication is that conversations have happened at least somewhat recently. The most recent news we have on a potential National Treasure 3 dates to 2014, with the earliest news starting in 2008. Needless to say, this movie has been in development hell for a while. If there’s been any serious movement since 2014, it’s gone unnoticed, though that doesn’t mean that it hasn’t happened. Jerry Bruckheimer has been working on Top Gun 2 longer than that, and we know that idea is still actively moving forward.
Back in 2010, the word was that the screenwriters behind Nicolas Cage’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and Prince of Persia had been hired to pen a script. Jon Turteltaub, who directed the first two films, has remained attached to a third for as long as it’s been discussed. One assumes that Nicolas Cage would certainly return. The two previous National Treasure films are currently the first and third highest grossing films of his career. The actor has a tendency to pick a wide variety of projects, but this one seems to be a no-brainer.
Would you be on board for another adventure in American conspiracy theories with Benjamin Franklin Gates? What do you think the new movie should tackle? We expect just about anything could be fun, as long as it’s not Atlantis.
