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.”