For fans who have spent years wondering whether Benjamin Gates would ever return, National Treasure 3 has received its most significant update yet. Director Jon Turteltaub has confirmed that the long-awaited sequel is moving forward at Disney and that a script is now in place.
Turteltaub made the announcement during a live recording of the National Treasure Hunt podcast in Philadelphia on August 21, 2026. He described the project as “finally real”, while also acknowledging that Hollywood projects can still change before cameras begin rolling.
National Treasure 3 Has a Script Disney Supports
The biggest development is not simply that another sequel is being discussed. Turteltaub said the team now has a script that he likes, and Disney has responded positively to it.
According to the director, the studio’s reaction was essentially that the project sounded like a movie it could make. That puts National Treasure 3 in a much more advanced position than many of its previous development updates.
Still, fans should not mistake development for a confirmed production start. Turteltaub himself stressed that unexpected circumstances can affect Hollywood projects.
Is Nicolas Cage Returning as Benjamin Gates?
Nicolas Cage’s possible return remains one of the biggest questions surrounding National Treasure 3.
Cage played historian and treasure hunter Benjamin Gates in both previous movies. Recent reporting indicates that the new project is being developed with Cage’s return in mind, although representatives for Cage and Disney had not immediately provided additional comment when contacted by TheWrap.
Turteltaub has also expressed a desire to bring back as much of the original cast as possible. That could potentially reunite audiences with familiar characters from the first two films, although a complete returning cast has not been officially announced.
Why National Treasure 3 Took So Long
The third movie has been discussed for years, but getting the story into a form that Disney would approve proved difficult.
The original National Treasure arrived in 2004 and introduced audiences to Ben Gates and his unusual approach to American history. The adventure continued in National Treasure: Book of Secrets in 2007.
Both movies were directed by Turteltaub and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. The films also became major commercial successes, making the possibility of another installment an ongoing topic among fans and the filmmakers.
Over the years, several scripts and writers were connected to the project. However, the movie repeatedly remained in development rather than moving into production.
That history makes Turteltaub’s latest announcement especially important. This time, the director says the script has reached a point where both he and Disney are satisfied with it.
Jerry Bruckheimer Is Also Backing the Project
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer has remained closely connected to the National Treasure franchise.
Bruckheimer previously produced the first two movies and has continued to discuss the possibility of a third instalment. In 2025, he said the team was getting closer and confirmed that the intention was for Turteltaub and Cage to return.
The latest update therefore builds on several years of development rather than appearing out of nowhere.
For fans, the combination of a completed script, Disney’s positive response and Turteltaub’s continued involvement represents the clearest sign yet that the project could finally become a reality.
What Could National Treasure 3 Be About?
Specific plot details have not been revealed.
However, there is one major unresolved story thread that fans have been discussing for years: Page 47 of the President’s Book of Secrets.
At the end of National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Ben learns that the president has discovered something on Page 47. The movie never reveals exactly what the mysterious page contains.
The 2022 Disney+ series National Treasure: Edge of History also referenced that storyline, keeping the question alive for long-time viewers.
For now, however, there is no confirmed information about whether National Treasure 3 will directly continue the Page 47 mystery or take the characters in a completely new direction.
The franchise has already expanded beyond the movies.
The National Treasure story did not disappear completely after the 2007 sequel.
Disney launched National Treasure: Edge of History in 2022. The series introduced a younger group of characters while remaining connected to the movie franchise. Justin Bartha and Harvey Keitel also appeared in the series.
The show lasted for one season before being cancelled, but it demonstrated that Disney was still interested in exploring the world of National Treasure.
Now, the focus has returned to the original movie franchise and the possibility of another adventure led by Benjamin Gates.
When Will National Treasure 3 Be Released?
There is currently no confirmed release date for National Treasure 3.
The latest announcement confirms that the project is in development and has a script that Disney has responded positively to. However, that does not mean filming has started or that a theatrical release has been scheduled.
More information about casting, production and a potential release date will likely emerge if the project moves into the next stage.
For now, the most important takeaway is simple: National Treasure 3 is further along than it has been in years.
After nearly two decades of waiting, fans finally have a reason to believe another treasure hunt may actually happen.