Jerry Bruckheimer's update about National Treasure franchise proved to be something of an unexpected hit, with Nicolas Cage's Benjamin Franklin Gates and his plan to steal the Declaration of Independence spawning a franchise. With a National Treasure series coming to Disney+, the franchise may seem alive and well, but the exact status of National Treasure 3 has been up in the air for some time.
The first National Treasure, released in 2004, was an unexpected hit despite its mixed critical reception. The sequel, Jerry Bruckheimer's update on National Treasure 3 still being in development is a good sign for the franchise's cinematic future.
Though Bruckheimer's statement is a relief that National Treasure 3 is still very much a possibility, it seems unclear whether the planned sequel will ever truly come to fruition. After over a decade of the film being stuck in the writing stages, National Treasure 3 still hasn't happened, with difficulty in progressing with the film's production mostly attributed to Disney not being on board with the scripts that have so far been produced. While Nicolas Cage and Jerry Bruckheimer are both positive about the third movie, the time that it has spent in development hell is incredibly disheartening.
According to Cage, Disney's National Treasure focus has shifted towards the production of the Disney+ series, which is the reason for the continued delays with National Treasure 3's story. This certainly seems to be the case, as the series was initially announced in May 2020, and filming is reportedly already underway. The speed with which the National Treasure TV series was greenlit and entered active production seems to confirm Cage's beliefs that National Treasure 3 is not Disney's priority.
Interestingly, the problems with finalizing a script for the sequel may also back up Cage's claim. Book of Secrets clearly sets up National Treasure 3's story with its "page 47" tease, offering a clear jumping-off point for the next installment in the franchise. However, Disney, reportedly being unhappy with over a decade's worth of scripts even after National Treasure: Book of Secrets clearly established a narrative angle for the sequel making it seem even less likely that National Treasure 3 will be made.
Bruckheimer's National Treasure 3 update seems like an encouraging sign, but it changes very little. The film has reportedly been in production since 2008, and Bruckheimer's update offers nothing in the way of new information. It's a relief that National Treasure 3 still seems to be in the pipeline. The National Treasure cast is open to returning even though Bruckheimer's update doesn't address the difficulties the sequel's development has faced. National Treasure 3 may still be in development. Still, it's no closer to being made today than it was back in 2008, and that's undoubtedly disheartening to those waiting for the return of Nicolas Cage to the franchise.
