Producer Jerry Bruckheimer says work on ‘National Treasure 3’ is moving forward, offering fresh hope for fans who have waited nearly two decades for the franchise to return to theaters. The producer shared a new update while attending the Producers’ Guild Awards, confirming that the long-discussed sequel is still active at Disney and that development is progressing behind the scenes.
‘National Treasure 3’ script update and development
Jerry Bruckheimer spoke on the red carpet at the Producers’ Guild Awards and said the long-delayed sequel is moving ahead. He attended the event in support of his PGA-nominated film ‘F1.’
During the conversation with The Direct, Bruckheimer said the project is advancing and that the team is currently focused on the script. “Coming along quite well,” he said when asked about the status of ‘National Treasure 3.’ He added that they are “working on the script for it” right now.The update follows reports from 2024 that Disney had officially restarted development on a third film in the adventure series. Bruckheimer had earlier confirmed that Ted Elliott was writing the screenplay. Elliott is also working on the next installment of the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ franchise.The original ‘National Treasure’ films starred Nicolas Cage as Ben Gates, a historian and treasure hunter who tracks legendary artifacts while solving historical puzzles. The first film debuted in 2004 and was followed by ‘National Treasure: Book of Secrets’ in 2007. Though critics gave mixed reviews, both films performed strongly at the box office and built a loyal fan base.
Nicolas Cage’s return remains key to franchise revival
Interest in a third film has surfaced repeatedly since 2007, but the project faced several delays. Disney attempted to expand the universe with the Disney+ series ‘National Treasure: Edge of History’ in 2022. The show was later canceled after one season.In late 2025, Bruckheimer told The Wrap that the team was making progress. “We’re getting closer,” he said at the time, while also noting that the plan was for Nicolas Cage to return and for original director Jon Turteltaub to come back.Cage, however, appeared uncertain about the sequel during a 2024 interview with Screen Rant. “There is no National Treasure 3,” the actor said at the time.Despite that comment, Bruckheimer continues to express confidence that the franchise will return. If Cage ultimately signs on again, the long-awaited sequel would continue the story of Ben Gates and bring the popular adventure series back to theaters after nearly twenty years.
