“National Treasure: Edge of History” TV Series, Inspired by Nicolas Cage Film Franchise, Coming to Disney+ for a Thrilling Treasure Hunt
The popular franchise National Treasure is returning with a new approach. Instead of a third movie, the creators are developing a ten-episode series called National Treasure: Edge of History. In this series, the audience will join the characters in unraveling clues and solving a new treasure hunting puzzle. The story will explore untapped aspects of pan-American history that the Gates team has not previously investigated.
The popular National Treasure film franchise is making a comeback with National Treasure: Edge of History, featuring new characters and storylines to appeal to a fresh audience. The series will continue the treasure-hunting theme and delve into unexplored aspects of pan-American history. While it is uncertain if Nicolas Cage will return, the focus will be on introducing new cast members who will bring their own unique contributions. The release date for the series on Disney+ is yet to be announced.
Background
Seventeen years ago, the movie National Treasure became incredibly popular worldwide. People everywhere were captivated by Nicholas Cage’s character, Benjamin Franklin Gates, as he solved puzzles to find a hidden treasure. In 2007, a sequel called National Treasure: Book of Secrets was released, and now the franchise is embarking on a new adventure in the form of a TV series on Disney+. The series will premiere around Christmas time, bringing new excitement and challenges to fans of the franchise.
The Disney+ series based on National Treasure introduces a fresh team of young treasure hunters who explore American history from a contemporary viewpoint. Mira Nair has been appointed as the director, while Jon Turteltaub, the director of the original movies, will serve as executive producer. Joining them are Cormac and Marianne Wibberley, the co-writers of the National Treasure film screenplays. Together, they will bring their expertise to create an exciting new chapter in the National Treasure franchise.
During the D23 Expo in Anaheim, the cast of the National Treasure series unveiled a full trailer and announced the release date of the show. They also shared some thrilling details about the upcoming adventure that awaits viewers.
National Treasure: Edge of History: Trailer
Will Nicolas Cage Be Reprising His Role?
Nicolas Cage played the lead role of Benjamin Gates in the two National Treasure films. He portrayed a passionate history enthusiast who risked everything to clear his family’s name and uncover the lost treasure of the nation. In the films, Cage’s character delved into ciphers and hidden messages, engaged in daring acts like stealing the Declaration of Independence, and ultimately pieced together the clues to solve the mystery. However, in the upcoming continuation of the National Treasure story, Cage will not be reprising his role. The actor is currently involved in various other projects, including a horror comedy called Renfield, where he portrays the character of Dracula.
While Cage is not back, the series will feature a younger cast.
The Cast of National Treasure: Edge of History
In the absence of Nicolas Cage, the National Treasure franchise introduces a fresh storyline with a new protagonist. Lisette Alexis plays the character of Jess Morales/Valenzuela, a 22-year-old who embarks on a cross-country journey to uncover her family’s secrets. To unravel the riddle of her past, she must locate the missing treasure that her father had mentioned years ago. Supported by her friends, they embark on an epic road trip, determined to find the clues that will lead them to the truth. However, they must race against a wealthy rival named Billie Pearce, who is also in pursuit of the same treasure.
Catherine Zeta-Jones will play the character of Billie Pearce, a dealer in illegal ancient artifacts. Like the character Ian Howe in the first National Treasure film, Billie tries to collaborate with Jess initially but eventually betrays her by stealing her clues. She then competes against Jess to solve the mystery and find the treasure before her.
Lyndon Smith will take on the role of FBI Agent Ross in the series, while Zuri Reed will portray Jess’ best friend Tasha. Jordan Rodrigues joins the cast as Ethan, another close friend of Jess. Antonio Cipriano will star as Oren, and Jake Austin Walker is set to play Liam, a musician from a family of treasure hunters.
During San Diego Comic-Con 2022, it was revealed that Harvey Keitel will be joining the series, reprising his role as Peter Sandusky from the films. Disney+ had previously announced that Justin Bartha will also be returning as Riley Poole, Ben’s best friend.
National Treasure: Edge of History: The Plot
The National Treasure: Edge of History series will continue the tradition of treasure hunting and explore new mysteries that have never been tackled by the Gates team before. It will pay homage to the previous films, featuring relics, maps, and lost history as integral elements of the story.
The plot of the series is currently under wraps, but according to reports, producer Jerry Bruckheimer aims to maintain a similar concept as the films by introducing a new, younger cast. It is worth noting that the series is distinct from the third film that is also in development and is expected to feature the original cast members from the previous movies.
Jess Valenzuela and Billie Pearce are embarking on a quest to find three enigmatic boxes. These boxes contain crucial clues that must be deciphered to uncover a hidden treasure, which Jess’s father had mentioned to her long ago. Solving this puzzle holds the key to unlocking valuable information about Jess’s family history and a potential fortune in gold.
The young protagonist possesses a mysterious cube with rotating circles adorned with symbols, including a Mayan numeral system that goes up to thirteen. From the released behind-the-scenes images, it seems that the series will draw inspiration from the Mexican-American war. However, a painting suggests a depiction of Spanish conquistadors charging their boats towards what appears to be a Mayan temple. In the previous films, the National Treasure franchise explored South American history and legends. Viewers are hoping that this series stays more faithful to real historical events and doesn’t present any more improbable scenarios, like discovering South American ruins in the Midwest.
National Treasure: Edge of History: Release date
National Treasure: Edge of History is set to premiere on Disney+ on December 14, 2022. The series will launch with the release of its first two episodes, allowing viewers to dive into the adventure right away.
