‘National Treasure 3’ Is “Finally Real” With Nicolas Cage Returning, Director Confirms
Grab your treasure-hunting gear—Benjamin Gates is coming back.
Over two decades after National Treasure was released, the director of the Disney adventure franchise starring Nicolas Cage revealed a third installment is “finally” in development.
“I was thinking about mentioning this tonight, I’ll say it tonight,” director Jon Turteltaub told the crowd during a live recording of the National Treasure Hunt podcast on Aug. 21. “It’s happening. You’re the first people I have said this out loud to.”
As he announced, “It’s finally real.”
While Turteltaub—who directed the 2004 film along with the 2007 sequel National Treasure: Book of Secrets—confirmed the exciting news, he pointed out that the status of projects in the industry can change quickly.
“Now, it’s ‘Hollywood real,’ meaning things can happen,” he explained. “Nic gets hit by a bus, there’s no National Treasure. If I get hit by a bus, there’s probably a National Treasure. Welcome to Hollywood, that’s Hollywood.”
According to Turteltaub, a script for the third film has not only been written, but has also been approved by himself and Disney, saying the studio told him it “sounds like a movie we can make.”
As for who else is on board? Jerry Bruckheimer, with the treasure podcast noting on Instagram that the film producer has given the National Treasure 3 script his “blessing.”
The first National Treasure followed historian Ben Gates, along with his friends Dr. Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger) and Riley Poole (Justin Bartha), who embarked on a quest to steal the Declaration of Independence to find a map to a lost Freemason treasure. The trio—in addition to OG stars Jon Voight and Harvey Keitel—returned for the sequel.
But in the nearly two decades since Book of Secrets was released, it seems that a potential third installment has been in development limbo.
Robert Zuckerman/Touchstone/Kobal/Shutterstock
And while fans got to briefly return to the world of the franchise in the short-lived 2022 Disney+ series National Treasure: Edge of History, it only further fueled the hope for a third film. After all, the show—which featured cameos from Bartha and Keitel—even referenced a cliffhanger at the end of the second movie, in which the President of the United States (Bruce Greenwood) tells Ben about a mysterious page 47 in the titular Book of Secrets.
At the time, Bruckheimer—who produced both films and the spinoff series—gave a positive update on the status of National Treasure 3.
“We said we’d like to make another National Treasure and they said, ‘Sure, let’s come up with a new cast,'” he told E! News in a 2022 interview. “At the same time, we were developing National Treasure for the theaters with Nicolas Cage—which we still are. So, that’s ongoing.”
Until we learn more about National Treasure 3, read on to see the movies you can check out in theaters this year…
Nicole Rivelli / Universal Pictures
One Night Only – August 7, 2026
Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro co-headline as two strangers searching for love in New York City.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
Warner Bros. Pictures
The End of Oak Street – August 14, 2026
After a mysterious cosmic event rips Oak Street from suburbia and transports their neighborhood to someplace unknown, the Platt family soon discovers that their very survival depends on them sticking together. Starring Ewan McGregor and Anne Hathaway.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
Paramount PIctures
PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie – August 14, 2026
After their ship gets caught in a mysterious storm, the PAW Patrol pups crash land on an uncharted tropical island filled with dinosaurs and are thrown into a series of high-stakes, dino-sized rescues.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
Black Bear
Spa Weekend – August 21, 2026
Leslie Mann, Isla Fisher, Michelle Buteau, and Anna Faris star in a wild comedy about four lifelong friends who escape to a luxury spa retreat for what turns out to be an unforgettable weekend dedicated to fun, laughter, and a lot of really bad decisions.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
20th Century Studios
The Dog Stars – August 28, 2026
Ridley Scott directs this post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller starring Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley, Josh Brolin, and Guy Pearce.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
Warner Bros. Pictures
Practical Magic 2 – September 11, 2026
The witchy Owens sisters return in this sequel to the 1998 classic. Starring Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock, Lee Pace, Joey King, and Maisie Williams.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Philippe Bossé/ Prime
The Love Hypothesis – September 23, 2026
Based on the New York Times best-seller, The Love Hypothesis follows Olive (Lili Reinhart), a Ph.D. candidate who impulsively kisses her department’s most intimidating professor, Adam Carlsen (Tom Bateman). Their mutual need for a fake relationship turns into an experiment in chemistry that might actually solve for love.
Where to Watch: Streaming on Prime Video
Philippe Bosse/Netflix
Unabomber – September 25, 2026
Inspired by true events, Unabomber follows Ted Kaczynski’s (Jacob Tremblay) transformation from Harvard prodigy into the infamous domestic terrorist. Also starring Russell Crowe, Shailene Woodley and Annabelle Wallis.
Where to Watch: Streaming on Netflix
Amazon MGM Studios
Verity – October 2, 2026
Adapted from Colleen Hoover‘s best-selling novel, this psychological thriller follows renowned author Verity Crawford (Anne Hathaway) and Lowen Ashleigh (Dakota Johnson), a struggling writer who relocates to the remote Crawford estate to ghostwrite for Verity.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures
The Social Reckoning – October 9, 2026
A companion piece to 2010’s The Social Network, writer/director Aaron Sorkin‘s new film is inspired by the true story of a young Facebook engineer (Mikey Madison) who enlists the help of a Wall Street Journal reporter (Jeremy Allen White) to go on a dangerous journey that ends up blowing the whistle on Mark Zuckerberg (Jeremy Strong) and the social network’s most guarded secrets.
Where to watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
Apple TV
Matchbox The Movie – October 9, 2026
In this action-packed adventure inspired by the iconic Mattel toys, an undercover CIA agent (John Cena) returns to his small town and unwittingly gets his childhood friends embroiled in a frantic international pursuit to save the world.
Where to Watch: Streaming on Apple TV
Focus Features
Sense and Sensibility – October 16, 2026
Daisy Edgar-Jones stars as Elinor Dashwood in this latest adaptation of Jane Austen‘s beloved novel. Also starring Fiona Shaw, Caitríona Balfe, George MacKay, and Esmé Creed-Miles.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
Paramount Pictures
Street Fighter – October 16, 2026
A live-action version of the legendary arcade game, starring Noah Centineo, Jason Momoa, 50 Cent, and many more as the iconic fighters.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
Black Bear/YouTube
Wicker – October 23, 2026
Alexander Skarsgard transforms for his role as the Wicker Husband made for Olivia Colman‘s ostracized fisherwoman in this unconventional love story.
Where to Watch: In select theaters on October 23, expanding October 30, 2026.
Warner Bros. Pictures
The Cat in the Hat – November 6, 2026
Based on the beloved Dr. Seuss book, this animated adaptation will feature the voices of Bill Hader, Quinta Brunson, Bowen Yang, and America Ferrera.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
Murray Close/Lionsgate
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping – November 20, 2026
This highly anticipated prequel revisits the world of Panem and follows young Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) twenty-four years before the events of The Hunger Games. Also starring Glenn Close, Whitney Peak, Elle Fanning, Ralph Fiennes, Mckenna Grace and Maya Hawke.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
Universal Pictures
Focker-In-Law – November 25, 2026
Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro reunite alongside Ariana Grande for this new chapter in the Meet the Parents franchise.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
Disney
Hexed – November 25, 2026
This animated coming-of-age saga follows an impulsive teenage girl named Billie (Hailee Steinfeld) who discovers secret magical abilities which hurtle her into a spectacular journey out of suburbia and into a vast witch realm called Hexe.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
Marvel Studios
Avengers: Doomsday – December 18, 2026
An insanely star-studded cast of MCU fan-favorites return to our screens in this fifth installment of the Avengers film series.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
Warner Bros. Pictures
Dune: Part Three – December 18, 2026
Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet return to deliver the epic conclusion to director Denis Villeneuve’s trilogy. Also starring Jason Momoa, Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson, Anya Taylor-Joy, Robert Pattinson, and Javier Bardem.
Where to Watch: In theaters and IMAX
Buy a ticket HERE.
Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures
Jumanji: Open World – December 25, 2026
The core cast (Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Jack Black and Kevin Hart) returns for this final installment of the reboot trilogy about a magical board game.
Where to Watch: In theaters
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