Director confirms ‘National Treasure 3’ with Nic Cage is ‘finally real’ at Philly’s ‘National Treasure’ Weekend

Director Jon Turteltaub came to Philadelphia’s first National Treasure weekend with a treasure of his own to pass on that he’s stowed — a third movie in the historical treasure hunt franchise starring Nicolas Cage is a go.

Turteltaub confirmed “it’s happening” on Friday night to Aubrey Paris and Emily Black, hosts of the National Treasure Hunt podcast, during a taping of the podcast before a live audience at the Philadelphia Visitor Center.

Initially, the crowd was stunned with disbelief, as if Turteltaub had just told them he was going to steal the Declaration of Independence, but after the director confirmed they were “the first people I have said this out loud to,” fans broke out in thunderous applause and cheers.

“I have not said anything before this, but you deserve to have the scoop,” Turtletaub told Paris and Black. “It’s finally real. Now, it’s Hollywood real, meaning things could happen. Nic gets hit by a bus, there’s no National Treasure 3. If I get hit by a bus, there’s probably a National Treasure 3. Welcome to Hollywood.”

Turteltaub — who also directed Cool Runnings, While You Were Sleeping, and The Meg — said there’s a script he and Disney like and “to whatever extent we can, everyone’s back” in the National Treasure cast, including Cage.

The first film in the franchise was released in 2004 and several iconic scenes were filmed in Philadelphia, a city whose tough-to-please residents have come to embrace the film.

Hundreds of people gathered for a free screening of National Treasure on Independence Mall Friday night after the chat, one of several events over three days celebrating the movie. A sold-out tour by Paris and Black of filming locations around Philadelphia and a screening of the 2007 sequel, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, were among other events slated for the weekend.

Turteltaub said one of the reasons it’s taken nearly two decades to make another chapter in the saga is the political climate of the country. He told a story about former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy calling him out of the blue to ask for a private screening of National Treasure for Congress.

“He, like others, were surprised that Democrats made that movie because Democrats can’t be patriots. That’s the thought and it just got worse,” Turteltaub said. “And on the Democrats’ side: ‘Oh, Republicans, they just want to keep stuff to themselves, they hate everybody, they want to kill everyone and blah blah blah.”

Turteltaub said because of the internet, people are quick to read politics into everything and take sides, and that will be addressed in the third film.

“We have to be very careful, but I don’t feel we are allowed to ignore it,” he said. “I think we have to include that idea in the story somehow without making someone feel put off.”

Turteltaub did not say whether the third film would include any scenes in Philadelphia, nor did he offer any further details about the plot.