Nicolas Cage Says Disney Turned Its Back on Him

Via DisDining.com

In the late 1990s through the early 200s, it seemed that every movie Nicolas Cage touched turned to gold. He was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood and was in a number of notable films, including Face/OffGone In 60 SecondsAdaptation., and Ghost Rider. In 2004, Disney fans around the world saw him play Benjamin Franklin Gates in the hit movie National Treasure. The movie was so successful that a sequel came out in 2007 and a third installment was promised.

Unfortunately, Cage had several films that were box office flops, including Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Season of the Witch, and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. That led to many of his film heading straight for Video on Demand. It was then that Cage began to see that production companies he had once had a close relationship with were beginning to turn their backs on him. One of those companies was Disney.

Sorcerer's Apprentice

In a new interview with GQ Magazine, Cage spoke about the issues he had in trying to make National Treasure 3 happen:

Cage is matter-of-fact when he speaks about how he went from headlining blockbusters to going straight to VOD. “The phone stopped ringing,” he says. “It was like, ‘What do you mean we’re not doing National Treasure 3? It’s been 14 years. Why not?’ ” He would often get a circuitous answer, but he knew what the elephant in the room was. “Well, Sorcerer’s Apprentice didn’t work, and Ghost Rider didn’t really sell tickets. And Drive Angry, that just came and went.’”

Cage wants to keep going with the indies. “I enjoy making movies like Pig and Leaving Las Vegas more than I enjoy making movies like National Treasure,” he says. He waves away suggestions that National Treasure 3 is happening, after I mention that Jerry Bruckheimer told me they were developing something. “When I talk about fair-weather friends in Hollywood, I’m not talking about Jerry. I’m talking about Disney,” he says. “They’re like an ocean liner. Once they go in a certain direction, you’ve got to get a million tugboats to try to swivel it back around.”

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Jerry Bruckheimer — the original producer on the first two films — has announced that a third film is in the works. There is also a National Treasure series in the works at Disney+. The series will star Lisette Alexis as a 20-something DREAMer who sets off on an exciting adventure to find a lost treasure and uncover her family’s secrets along the way. The series will also star Catherine Zeta-Jones.

There is no word on whether Cage will be in National Treasure 3 or if he will make a possible cameo in the National Treasure Disney+ series.

Disney+ ‘National Treasure’ Casts Powerhouse Actress as Series Regular

When Disney+ was launched in 2019, subscribers were promised a ton of great original programming. And so far Disney has kept its promise. Fans have flocked to the platform to watch original shows like The Imagineering Story, Loki, and The Mandalorian. Disney has also announced a ton of new shows that are coming down the pike, including American Born ChinesePaola Santiago and the River of Tears, and Superfudge — based on the novel from Judy Blume.

Disney has also turned/is turning a number of its popular films into series. High School Musical has become High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and The Mighty Ducks was turned into The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers. Next up on Disney’s film-to-series slate?  The 2004 film National Treasure. In 2020, the film’s original producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, announced that not only was a third film in the works, but it would also become a Disney+ series. The original film starred Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, and Justin Bartha.

National Treasure 2

If you need a refresher on the original film, it is available to stream on Disney+. Here is the official description from Disney:

Ever since he was a boy, Gates has been obsessed with finding the legendary Knights Templar Treasure, the greatest fortune known to man. As Gates tries to find and decipher ancient riddles that will lead him to it, he’s dogged by a ruthless enemy who wants the riches for himself. Now in a race against time, Gates must steal one of America’s most sacred and guarded documents – the Declaration of Independence – or let it, and a key clue to the mystery, fall into dangerous hands.

The new National Treasure series will not focus on the original characters, but will instead introduce an entirely new cast. Lisette Alexis will lead the series as Jess Morales, a 20-year-old DREAMer who goes off on an adventure to discover the secrets of her own family tree. Lyndon Smith, Jordan Rodrigues, Jake Austin Walker, Antonio Cipriano, and Zuri Reed have also been announced to be in the show.

Disney has now shared that a mega-star will be joining the show as a series regular. According to multiple reports, Catherine Zeta-Jones will be playing a character named Billie. Here is more information on the character, per Entertainment Weekly:

According to a character description, Zeta-Jones will play Billie, who’s “a badass billionaire, black-market antiquities expert, and treasure hunter who lives by her own code.”

“She transformed herself from a penniless orphan to a shrewd, stylish businesswoman and adventurer,” the description continues. “Billie’s used to getting what she wants — and she wants the Pan-American treasure. But not just for the money. This treasure has deeper stakes for her.”

Catherina Zeta-Jones

Neither a filming date nor a premiere date have been announced at this time. We do know that Jerry Bruckheimer will be producing the series. Rick Muirragui (Suits, Whiskey Cavalier) will be a writer on the series, along with Cormac and Marianne Wibberly — two of the film’s original writers. Mira Nair will be directing — she has previously worked with Disney on the film Queen of Katwe.

National Treasure TV Series Starring Latina Character Coming to Disney+

A 10-episode series in the National Treasure franchise will be premiering exclusively on Disney+. Directed by Mira Nair (Queen of Katwe), the series follows 20-year-old Latina Jess Morales, who seeks to solve her family’s mysteries and discover treasure.

National Treasure director Jerry Bruckheimer returns, as well as two writers, Marianne and Cormac Wibberley. No release date or cast has been announced at this time.