Nicolas Cage, who starred in the National Treasure movies, recently shattered the hopes of fans by announcing that there will be no National Treasure 3. According to Cage, Disney is not the place to look for treasure, implying that the beloved franchise has come to an end.
The Fate of National Treasure: Edge of History
While fans were left disappointed by the news of no National Treasure 3, a glimmer of hope came with the Disney+ TV series National Treasure: Edge of History. However, despite featuring familiar faces like Justin Bartha and Harvey Keitel, the TV show failed to capture the same success as the movies and was canceled after just one season.
The Legacy of the National Treasure Series
Debuting in 2004, the National Treasure series followed the adventures of historian Ben Gates, played by Cage, as he embarked on outrageous quests to protect national treasures. Despite the absurdity of the plots, the movies proved to be entertaining and attracted a star-studded cast that contributed to the franchise’s success.
Although there were talks of a National Treasure 3 being in the works as recently as 2020, the project never materialized. Producer Jason Reed cited Disney’s failure to turn National Treasure into a fully-fledged franchise with merchandise and theme park attractions as a key reason for its demise.
National Treasure, despite its box office success, never achieved the same level of success in ancillary revenue streams as other franchises. Reed acknowledged that while the movies had a strong fanbase and were frequently discussed, Disney was unable to capitalize on the potential to expand the franchise beyond the big screen.
The National Treasure series has left a lasting impact on audiences, but the failure to sustain its momentum beyond the movies has ultimately led to its downfall. With Nicolas Cage ruling out a third installment and the TV series failing to resonate with viewers, the future of National Treasure remains uncertain in the ever-changing landscape of Hollywood.
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