It was back in September 2008 that producer Jerry Bruckheimer officially confirmed that a third National Treasure movie was being developed (which due to the fact that the first two films; 2004’s National treasure, and 2007’s National Treasure: Book of Secrets; raked in around $800 million at the box office was all but a given), and since then Jon Voight (Deliverance) has stated that he will be returning for the next film (once again playing the hero’s father), as will Helen Mirren (The Queen, playing his ex-wife), and expressing his hopes that there will be a good part for him to play.
Nicolas Cage will also be reprising his role as the heroic, treasure hunting, modern-day Indiana Jones, Benjamin Gates, and all evidence also suggests that Diane Kruger and Justin Bartha will once more take up the roles of Ben’s love interest, Abigail Chase, and best friend, Riley Poole, respectively. Although so far there’s no word on Sean Bean’s Ian Howe breaking out of jail and suddenly going on a clue-finding, treasure hunting, rampage.
There’s no official word on the plot as of yet (although it most probably focuses heavily on the mysterious page 47, from the President’s book of secrets, and involves a number of skewed historical revisions, numerous unnecessarily lengthy clues/trails, and possibly ties to a secret organization or two), but what is known, is that Carlo Bernard and Doug Miro have recently been hired to drum up a fun, family friendly, free-for-all, for the Gates gang.
Bernard and Miro, who are by this point fairly used to working for Jerry Bruckheimer; having penned the script for Prince of Persia (due to be released this May, and already set to be one of this summer’s biggest blockbusters) and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (which actually starred Nicolas Cage and was directed by National Treasures own John Turteltaub); are expected to have a script out pretty soon, as the film is currently scheduled for release next year.
Stay tuend for more news about the film’s development and plot, and any possible news about National Treasure 4 (Disney have already registered a domain for NationalTreasure4DVD.com) as and when it arrives.
