Surprising Update on National Treasure 3 Revealed

If the long-awaited National Treasure 3 finally comes to fruition, the film is set to feature a mix of both familiar faces and new characters. This includes not just individuals from the previous two films, but also from the series National Treasure: Edge of History. This series, although receiving mostly positive reviews, did not garner enough viewership, leading to its cancellation after just one 10-episode season on Disney+. The show stood out by introducing a young and diverse cast, and by bringing back Justin Bartha’s Riley and Harvey Keitel’s Sandusky from the original movies.

In a recent interview, screenwriter Ted Elliot revealed that Riley will play a significant role in the upcoming screenplay and that his character development from the TV series won’t be disregarded.

Unfortunately, Keitel’s Sandusky won’t make a return for the third film, at least not in the conventional sense. Elliot mentioned that Sandusky’s death means Keitel won’t be back unless flashbacks or similar narrative tools are used. Elliot also hinted at changes in the “inner relationship” between Ben and Riley in the new installment.

“Riley has changed more than anybody else,” Elliot told ScreenRant. “If you look at his role in the first film, he is the uninformed audience. By the second film, he’s written a book about cryptohistory and knows things Ben didn’t. I believe that has continued. Now, it becomes more challenging to handle the historical exposition since Riley is more knowledgeable.”

Elliot also expressed plans to reimagine the role of the FBI in the third movie, though he did not delve into specifics.

“I’m trying to do something different with the FBI than in the previous two movies,” Elliot said. “They’re still the pursuers and the force for law and order, but their methods might be a bit different.”

National Treasure, which hit theaters in 2004, was both a critical and commercial success. Its sequel, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, released three years later, also did well commercially, though reception among critics and audiences was more mixed. Over the years, there have been numerous rumors about a third installment. Despite periods of silence, almost everyone involved in the franchise, including actor Nicolas Cage and director Jon Turtletaub, has expressed willingness to return.

The TV series, airing from 2022 to 2023, was an attempt to rejuvenate the franchise after it seemed like a third film might never materialize. The show’s introduction appeared to reignite interest and enthusiasm for the sequel.

Source: ScreenRant, Disney+