<em>National Treasure 3</em> Is "Finally Real" With Nicolas Cage Returning
National Treasure 3 Is "Finally Real" With Nicolas Cage Returning
Paige Catton Sun, August 23, 2026 at 1:34 AM UTC
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Originally appeared on E! Online
Grab your treasure-hunting gear—Benjamin Gates is coming back.
Over two decades after National Treasure was released, the director of the Disney adventure franchise starringNicolas Cagerevealed a third installment is “finally” in development.
“I was thinking about mentioning this tonight, I’ll say it tonight,” director Jon Turteltaub told the crowd during a live recording of the National Treasure Hunt podcast on Aug. 21. “It’s happening. You’re the first people I have said this out loud to.”
As he announced, “It’s finally real.”
While Turteltaub—who directed the 2004 film along with the 2007 sequel National Treasure: Book of Secrets—confirmed the exciting news, he pointed out that the status of projects in the industry can change quickly.
“Now, it’s ‘Hollywood real,’ meaning things can happen,” he explained. “Nic gets hit by a bus, there’s no National Treasure. If I get hit by a bus, there’s probably a National Treasure. Welcome to Hollywood, that’s Hollywood.”
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According to Turteltaub, a script for the third film has not only been written, but has also been approved by himself and Disney, saying the studio told him it “sounds like a movie we can make.”
As for who else is on board? Jerry Bruckheimer, with the treasure podcast noting on Instagram that the film producer has given the National Treasure 3 script his “blessing.”
The first National Treasure followed historian Ben Gates, along with his friends Dr. Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger) and Riley Poole (Justin Bartha), who embarked on a quest to steal the Declaration of Independence to find a map to a lost Freemason treasure. The trio—in addition to OG stars Jon Voight and Harvey Keitel—returned for the sequel.
But in the nearly two decades since Book of Secrets was released, it seems that a potential third installment has been in development limbo.
Robert Zuckerman/Touchstone/Kobal/Shutterstock
And while fans got to briefly return to the world of the franchise in the short-lived 2022 Disney+ series National Treasure: Edge of History, it only further fueled the hope for a third film. After all, the show—which featured cameos from Bartha and Keitel—even referenced a cliffhanger at the end of the second movie, in which the President of the United States (Bruce Greenwood) tells Ben about a mysterious page 47 in the titular Book of Secrets.
At the time, Bruckheimer—who produced both films and the spinoff series—gave a positive update on the status of National Treasure 3.
"We said we'd like to make another National Treasure and they said, ‘Sure, let's come up with a new cast,'" he told E! News in a 2022 interview. "At the same time, we were developing National Treasure for the theaters with Nicolas Cage—which we still are. So, that's ongoing."
Until we learn more about National Treasure 3, read on to see the movies you can check out in theaters this year…
One Night Only - August 7, 2026
Callum TurnerandMonica Barbaroco-headline as two strangers searching for love in New York City.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.The End of Oak Street - August 14, 2026
After a mysterious cosmic event rips Oak Street from suburbia and transports their neighborhood to someplace unknown, the Platt family soon discovers that their very survival depends on them sticking together. StarringEwan McGregorandAnne Hathaway.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie - August 14, 2026
After their ship gets caught in a mysterious storm, the PAW Patrol pups crash land on an uncharted tropical island filled with dinosaurs and are thrown into a series of high-stakes, dino-sized rescues.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Spa Weekend - August 21, 2026
Leslie Mann,Isla Fisher,Michelle Buteau, andAnna Farisstar in a wild comedy about four lifelong friends who escape to a luxury spa retreat for what turns out to be an unforgettable weekend dedicated to fun, laughter, and a lot of really bad decisions.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.The Dog Stars - August 28, 2026
Ridley Scottdirects this post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller starringJacob Elordi,Margaret Qualley,Josh Brolin,andGuy Pearce.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Practical Magic 2 - September 11, 2026
The witchy Owens sisters return in this sequel to the 1998 classic. StarringNicole Kidman,Sandra Bullock,Lee Pace,Joey King, andMaisie Williams.Where to Watch:In theatersThe Love Hypothesis - September 23, 2026
Based on the New York Times best-seller,The Love Hypothesisfollows Olive (Lili Reinhart), a Ph.D. candidate who impulsively kisses her department's most intimidating professor, Adam Carlsen (Tom Bateman). Their mutual need for a fake relationship turns into an experiment in chemistry that might actually solve for love.Where to Watch:Streaming onPrime VideoUnabomber - September 25, 2026
Inspired by true events,UnabomberfollowsTed Kaczynski’s (Jacob Tremblay) transformation from Harvard prodigy into the infamous domestic terrorist. Also starringRussell Crowe,Shailene WoodleyandAnnabelle Wallis.Where to Watch:Streaming onNetflixVerity - October 2, 2026
Adapted fromColleen Hoover's best-selling novel, this psychological thriller follows renowned author Verity Crawford (Anne Hathaway) and Lowen Ashleigh (Dakota Johnson), a struggling writer who relocates to the remote Crawford estate to ghostwrite for Verity.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.The Social Reckoning - October 9, 2026
A companion piece to 2010'sThe Social Network, writer/directorAaron Sorkin's new film is inspired by the true story of a young Facebook engineer (Mikey Madison) who enlists the help of aWall Street Journalreporter (Jeremy Allen White) to go on a dangerous journey that ends up blowing the whistle onMark Zuckerberg(Jeremy Strong) and the social network’s most guarded secrets.Where to watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Matchbox The Movie - October 9, 2026
In this action-packed adventure inspired by the iconic Mattel toys, an undercover CIA agent (John Cena) returns to his small town and unwittingly gets his childhood friends embroiled in a frantic international pursuit to save the world.Where to Watch:Streaming onApple TVSense and Sensibility - October 16, 2026
Daisy Edgar-Jonesstars as Elinor Dashwood in this latest adaptation ofJane Austen's beloved novel. Also starringFiona Shaw,Caitríona Balfe,George MacKay, andEsmé Creed-Miles.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Street Fighter - October 16, 2026
A live-action version of the legendary arcade game, starringNoah Centineo,Jason Momoa,50 Cent, and many more as the iconic fighters.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Wicker - October 23, 2026
Alexander Skarsgardtransformsfor his role as the Wicker Husband made forOlivia Colman's ostracized fisherwoman in this unconventional love story.Where to Watch:In select theaters on October 23, expanding October 30, 2026.The Cat in the Hat - November 6, 2026
Based on the belovedDr. Seuss book, this animated adaptation will feature the voices ofBill Hader,Quinta Brunson,Bowen Yang, andAmerica Ferrera.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping - November 20, 2026
This highly anticipated prequel revisits the world of Panem and follows young Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) twenty-four years before the events of The Hunger Games. Also starringGlenn Close,Whitney Peak,Elle Fanning,Ralph Fiennes,Mckenna GraceandMaya Hawke.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Focker-In-Law - November 25, 2026
Ben StillerandRobert De Niroreunite alongsideAriana Grandefor this new chapter in theMeet the Parentsfranchise.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Hexed - November 25, 2026
This animated coming-of-age saga follows an impulsive teenage girl named Billie (Hailee Steinfeld) who discovers secret magical abilities which hurtle her into a spectacular journey out of suburbia and into a vast witch realm called Hexe.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Avengers: Doomsday - December 18, 2026
An insanelystar-studded castof MCU fan-favorites return to our screens in this fifth installment of theAvengersfilm series.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Dune: Part Three - December 18, 2026
ZendayaandTimothée Chalametreturn to deliver the epic conclusion to directorDenis Villeneuve’s trilogy. Also starringJason Momoa,Florence Pugh,Rebecca Ferguson,Anya Taylor-Joy,Robert Pattinson, andJavier Bardem.Where to Watch:In theaters and IMAXBuy a ticketHERE.Jumanji: Open World - December 25, 2026
The core cast (Dwayne Johnson,Karen Gillan,Jack BlackandKevin Hart) returns for this final installment of the reboot trilogy about a magical board game.Where to Watch:In theaters
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
