Filmmaker Jon Turteltaub has confirmed that a third “National Treasure” movie is, finally, a go.
Turteltaub appeared on Friday night at the Philadelphia Visitor Center where National Treasure Hunt podcast hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black were taping with a live audience.
According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, the crowd was initially stunned by the news from Turteltaub before loud applause and cheers were issued once he confirmed it. Specifically, the helmer said:
“I have not said anything before this, but you deserve to have the scoop. 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.”
He confirmed there is a script that he and the studio like, and added, “to whatever extent we can, everyone’s back,” regarding the film’s cast like Nic Cage and Justin Bartha. The first film was released in 2004 with multiple scenes filmed in Philadelphia.
He adds that part of the reason it has taken so long is that people are quick to read politics into everything and ‘take sides’. He feels they have to address that:
“We have to be very careful, but I don’t feel we are allowed to ignore it. I think we have to include that idea in the story somehow without making someone feel put off.”
Plot specifics of the film are under wraps. At last report a year ago, Chris Bremner (“Bad Boys for Life”) was penning the script.
