National Treasure 3has a big story challenge that makes me want to see the third installment in the franchise even more badly. Starring Nicolas Cage as Benjamin Gates,National Treasurecenters around the titular character’s adventures while searching for treasure. Following the success ofNational Treasure: Book of Secretsin 2007,a threequel was greenlit that same year with production development beginning in 2008. However, it’s been 16 years, andNational Treasure 3still hasn’t happened. Given the success of theNational Treasuremovies, the fact thatNational Treasure 3has remained in development hell for this long is surprising.

Instead ofNational Treasure 3, a series titledNational Treasure: Edge of Historywhich didn’t star Nicolas Cagewas created. Unfortunately,the show received disappointing reviews from critics and was canceled only after oneseason. The future ofNationalTreasure 3has been uncertain for years. Cage and Diane Kruger have hinted at the fact that the movie might never happen. IfNationalTreasure 3were to materialize, though, it will have a major plot challenge to resolve.

Harvey Keitel and Nicolas Cage in National Treasure 2 Book of Secrets

What Could National Treasure 3’s Mission Possibly Be After The Plots Of 1 & 2?

National Treasure 3 Might Be About Page 47

In the firstNational Treasuremovie,Benjamin, Riley, and Abigail have to find the Freemason’s lost treasure using a map that was hidden at the back of the United States Declaration of Independence. The trio had to solve a myriad of American history-based clues while simultaneously trying to outsmart Ian Howe (Sean Bean), the villain in the movie. The second installment in the franchise,National Treasure: Book of Secrets, had the treasure hunters traveling around the world to prove that one of Benjamin’s ancestors was not involved in the death of Abraham Lincoln.

Both theNational Treasuremovies had fun, gripping missions. SinceNational Treasure: Book of Secretsended on a cliffhanger with Benjamin readingwhat’s on page 47 of the President’s Book,National Treasure 3will likely reveal what he found. Page 47 could hold clues that would lead Benjamin and his companions on a mission to find another lost American treasure. Alternatively, the third installment in the franchise could experiment with a fresh plot that doesn’t necessarily have to be all about American history.

Feature image of Nicolas in National Treasure

National Treasure 3’s Premise Being As Bizarre As The Previous Ones Would Make It Worth It

National Treasure 3 Should Have More Complex Clues

I have been waiting for aNational Treasure 3movie since the mysterious ending ofNational Treasure: Book of Secretsand I hope it will be as bizarre as the previous installments in the franchise. The reasonNational TreasureandNational Treasure: Book of Secretsworked so well was because they employed concepts that made the films entertaining from start to finish.Very few things could beat stealing the United States Declaration of Indepenceor convincing a president to explore secret tunnels.

National Treasure 3 Will Struggle To Break The Franchise’s Divisive Rotten Tomatoes Record

The third installment in the National Treasure franchise might have a difficult time breaking the franchise’s divisive Rotten RT score.

One of the best things about theNational Treasuremovies were the impossible to solve puzzles.National Treasure 3has to be bigger and bolder when it comes to the puzzles and clues in the movie.Granted, the clues in the previous installments already seemed like they were impossible to solve, but that should serve as motivation forNational Treasure3to make the clues and puzzles more complex.

Benjamin and Abigail reading a clue in National Treasure

Will National Treasure 3 With Nicolas Cage Ever Happen?

Nicolas Cage’s National Treasure 3 Future Is Uncertain

Nicolas Cage’s portrayal of Benjamin Gates contributed to why theNational Treasurefranchise was a box office success,so a third installment of the movie without theFace Offactor probably wouldn’t garner as much excitement. Over the years, there have been discussions about a National Treasure 3 with Cage reprising his role as Benjamin Gates. Ted Elliot, theNational Treasure 3screenwriter has teased that he would like Cage to return to his role in the franchise along with Diane Kruger and Justin Bartha. Aside from Cage, other familiar faces includingSean Bean could return inNational Treasure 3.

The producer stated that a script for the threequel was completed and it was going to send it to Cage to see if he liked it.

National Treasure vertical

While promoting Tom Cruise’sTom Gun: Maverick, Jerry Buckheinmer, the director of theNational Treasuremovies conducted an interview withComic Bookwhere he was asked to clarify what the future ofNational Treasure 3was.The producer stated that a script for the threequel was completed and it was going to send it to Cage to see if he liked it.“Let’s hope we’re working on the script right now. Hopefully [Cage] likes it, but it’s really good. So I think we’ll get it to him shortly,” said Buckheinmer. Whether Cage will star inNationalTreasure 3is still uncertain, but I for one would like to see him solving fun and seemingly impossible history-based clues again.

National Treasure

The National Treasure franchise follows the adventures of Benjamin Franklin Gates, a historian and amateur cryptologist, as he uncovers hidden treasures linked to American history. The series combines historical myths and legends with action-adventure elements, leading Gates on thrilling treasure hunts across various significant landmarks.