Nicolas Cage is back on the fierce mission for a hunt once again!
“National Treasure” is now moving closer to reality after two decades of uncertainty surrounding the beloved Disney series. The development also puts Cage back in the conversation as Benjamin Franklin Gates.
The first “National Treasure” arrived in 2004 and became a major part of Nicolas Cage’s blockbuster career. Its 2007 sequel, “National Treasure: Book of Secrets,” also continued with Cage.
Director Jon Turtletaub came to Philadelphia’s first National Treasure weekend with a massive surprise for loyal followers. He confirmed that “it’s happening” during a live recording of the “National Treasure Hunt” podcast. The audience reportedly erupted after the director revealed that the project had finally reached a serious stage.
Turteltaub said the movie is “Hollywood real,” while explaining that he and Disney have a script they both like. He also indicated that the cast could return “to whatever extent we can,” including Cage. That puts the actor’s possible return firmly back in the picture after years of uncertainty.
Turteltaub also joked about Hollywood’s unpredictability after calling the project “finally real.” He pointed out that unforeseen circumstances could still derail the movie before production. Still, his confirmation marks a major shift after years of speculation about another sequel.
The Political Climate Blocked The Franchise For Decades
The gap between the second and potential third films has become part of the franchise’s story. “National Treasure: Book of Secrets” arrived in 2007, leaving fans waiting for another chapter for nearly two decades. Turteltaub has now explained that the long delay wasn’t simply about putting another script together.
According to The Inquirer, the director said the political climate in the United States contributed to the delay. He recalled former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy asking him for a private screening of the original movie for Congress. Turteltaub said the film’s political themes eventually became harder to navigate as people increasingly read politics into entertainment.
He also suggested that the third movie will address that reality. Turteltaub said the filmmakers need to include the idea without alienating viewers. He did not reveal specific plot details or confirm whether Philadelphia will appear in the new film.
Nicolas Cage Once Called The Franchise ‘Profoundly Ridiculous’
In 2023, Cage revisited one of the most memorable scenes from the 2004 film during a Vanity Fair video interview. He burst out laughing while watching Benjamin Gates declare that he was going to steal the “Declaration of Independence.”
The line has remained a major part of Cage’s career and inspired countless memes and parodies. Rather than dismissing the scene, Cage explained why he believes it worked so well.
He questioned how anyone could take something “so profoundly ridiculous” and genuinely sell it to an audience. He also praised Benjamin, his character’s positivity, and the character’s sincere reverence for the historical document.
The actor said the scene became funnier because he and Justin Bartha played it completely seriously. He noted that making it intentionally funny would have turned it into a screwball comedy, which was not his approach.
Variety shared that Cage also praised director Turtletaub for filming the “Declaration” with such reverence. “I think Jon Turtletaub shot it lovingly,” Cage said.
The Actor Turned Down Massive Roles
Cage has also turned down some of Hollywood’s biggest opportunities because of his family. He reportedly rejected the role of Aragorn in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy because filming in New Zealand would have kept him away from his family for about nine months. He later made a similar decision with Neo in “The Matrix,” which was filmed in Australia.
Cage also passed on the chance to voice Shrek after Chris Farley, initially cast in the role, died before completing the project. He turned down the DreamWorks role because he did not want children to picture him as the famous green ogre. Years later, Cage appeared to reconsider, admitting in 2013, “Maybe I should have done it.”
Cage now describes his life as “extraordinarily boring” and “monastic,” saying he has become more cautious about taking risks. Much of his time centers on raising his youngest child, August Francesca, whom he welcomed with his wife, Riko Shibata, in 2022. He shared that he spent a lot of his time doomscrolling on the internet.
Nicolas Cage Finally Makes His Famous Surname Official
Cage’s Hollywood identity has always been separate from his famous family background. He is the nephew of director Francis Ford Coppola and the cousin of filmmaker Sofia Coppola and actor Jason Schwartzman. Despite building his career under the Cage name, he only recently made it his legal surname.
The Blast shared that Cage legally changed his name after decades of using it professionally. He explained that becoming “Cage” allowed him to establish his own identity rather than remain on the margins of the influential Coppola family. He said he wanted to be “the patriarch of my own little family” rather than “the clown cousin on the margins of someone else’s.”
The actor also explained where the surname came from. He was inspired by Marvel’s Luke Cage, also known as Power Man, and by composer John Cage, whom he admired. Cage kept “Nicolas” because it was the name his father gave him, despite joking about its French spelling.
After years of twists and turns, Nicolas Cage’s treasure hunting is finally coming back!
