Summary
National Treasure 3screenwriter Ted Elliot shares a progress update on the anticipated sequel, dropping some story and character teases. After the success of 2004’sNational Treasure, which introduces Nicolas Cage’s treasure-hunter, Benjamin Gates, a sequel was released in 2007, reuniting the actor with costars Diane Kruger (Abigail Chase) and Justin Bartha (Riley Poole).National Treasure 3has been in developmentfor some time, but the project has struggled to get off the ground for years now, though numerous parties involved have expressed willingness to return, including director Jon Turteltaub.
In a recent interview with theNational Treasure Huntpodcast, Elliot spills some new details aboutNational Treasure 3, including revealing that “nobody has gotten it yet"when it comes to what the treasure will be. Elliot also reveals that he’s now finished a first draft, though it still needs rewrites. As for who could appear in the new movie, the screenwriter reveals that he intends for familiar faces beyond Ben, Abigail, and Riley to return, and that the film will include multiple antagonists.Check out some of his other comments about the story below:
“Riley has changed more [than anybody else.] If you just look at the two points that are established for him in the first and second movies. In the first one, he is the uninformed audience. […] That’s the role he plays. He’s the guy who says, ‘What are you talking about there?’ In the second one he’s written a book about cryptohistory. And he’s right! He knows something Ben didn’t know about history. I just have to think that that’s continued. It becomes more difficult to do the history exposition because […] there are things [Riley] can know now. […]
In terms of writing the third movie, there is, I think, a change to Ben and Riley’s inner relationship that I think both actors will really enjoy. […]
Agent Sudusky is dead. I’m treating the TV series as canon […] I’m trying to do something different with the FBI than was done in the previous two movies. There’s still the pursuers, there’s still the force for law and order, but just the way they operate I’m trying to do something just a little bit different.”
15 Reasons To Be Excited For National Treasure 3
Fourteen years in, fans finally got news of Disney’s National Treasure 3. There are many reasons to be excited about the Nicolas Cage-helmed movie!
What Elliot’s Comments Mean For National Treasure 3’s Story
Which Other Actors Could Return?
Amajor tease forNational Treasure 3inNational Treasure: Book of Secretsis the President’s Book, in particular what’s on page 47. It’s never revealed what’s on this page, andElliot’s comments don’t discount that the contents of the President’s Book could still play a role in whatever story is to come. Page 47 could, for example, hold the key to another American mystery or treasure that online sleuths haven’t yet guessed.
While nothing is yet set in stone, Elliot’s tease thatNational Treasurecastmembers Cage, Kruger, and Bartha are all being eyed to return suggests the new film will feature the same dynamic that made the first two films work so well. His tease that he’s also included some other familiar facescould mean that characters played by Jon Voight, Helen Mirren, Bruce Greenwood, and Sean Bean also return. Since he’s takingNational Treasure: Edge of Historyas canon, however, audiences can be confident that Harvey Keitel will not be reprising his role as Sadusky.
National Treasure: Edge of Historywas met with mostly negative reviews and was cancelled after only one season.
Elliot’s comments suggestNational Treasure 3will feature an interesting mixture of the old and the new. Riley’s continued evolution as a character, for example, could see him become even more knowledgeable in history, and he could perhaps be looking to emerge from under Ben’s shadow as a treasure hunter and historian. It remains to be seen whetherNational Treasure 3will get the green light, but Elliot’s latest comments certainly suggest it will be an exciting continuation of the hit franchise.
Source:National Treasure Hunt
National Treasure 3
National Treasure 3: The third installment in the National Treasure series follows treasure hunter Benjamin Gates, portrayed by Nicolas Cage, as he embarks on a new quest uncovering historical mysteries and secrets. Released in 2024, the film continues the saga of adventure and discovery seen in the previous National Treasure films.
