Nearly two decades after National Treasure: Book of Secrets hit theaters, director Jon Turteltaub is gearing up for a third installment in the adventure franchise—and he’s already drawing backlash by suggesting the film will weave in modern political themes.
In an interview reported by the New York Post, Turteltaub hinted that the sequel cannot ignore today’s political climate. “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.”
The comments have ignited a firestorm among fans who see the National Treasure series as a rare piece of unapologetically patriotic entertainment—two films that celebrate American history through a thrilling, Indiana Jones-style adventure led by Nicolas Cage’s character, a man who loves his country without caveats.
The franchise began in 2004 with the original National Treasure, starring Cage, Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel, and Diane Kruger. It grossed nearly $350 million worldwide. The 2007 sequel, Book of Secrets, reunited much of the cast and earned an even heftier $460 million globally. Given that trajectory, a third film seemed like a no-brainer—but Disney, the studio behind the franchise, dragged its feet for years.
Disney’s Rocky Relationship with the Franchise
Part of the delay, critics argue, stems from Disney’s discomfort with the franchise’s patriotic tone. The National Treasure films are unusual in that they teach American history without the cynicism or “woke caveats” that have become common in modern Hollywood. That’s a hard sell for a company that, in the view of many, has increasingly prioritized progressive messaging over storytelling.
Disney’s track record with the franchise in recent years has done little to reassure skeptics. In 2022, the company launched National Treasure: Edge of History, a Disney+ series that ran for just ten episodes. The show replaced Cage’s character with a young, Hispanic, DACA-protected woman—a decision that drew widespread mockery and accusations that Disney was parodying its own IP.
The series flopped, and Disney now finds itself in a precarious position. The company has faced a stagnant stock price, a string of box office disappointments, and growing backlash against its perceived political agenda. Bringing back the original National Treasure—the one that millions of fans actually love—is seen by many as a calculated move to win back a disaffected audience.
But Turteltaub’s recent comments suggest the studio may be unable to resist injecting politics into even its most beloved properties.
Fans Brace for a Politicized Sequel
Though Turteltaub offered few details about the plot, his insistence that the film must “address modern politics” has led to widespread speculation about what that might mean. Some fear the sequel will feature lectures on slavery and colonialism, or that a side character will be used to show up Cage’s character with modern sensibilities.
The reaction on social media has been swift and fierce. Critics of Disney’s approach see Turteltaub’s comments as a confession that the studio plans to alter the franchise’s DNA to suit its own ideological priorities—even if it means alienating the very fans who made National Treasure a hit.
The New York Post reported that Turteltaub explicitly acknowledged the challenge: “We have to be very careful, but I don’t feel we are allowed to ignore it.” That careful balancing act, however, may be exactly what fans fear most—a sequel that tries to please everyone and ends up pleasing no one.
A Belated Return, or a Ruined Legacy?
For many, the sequel’s announcement is long overdue. Fifteen years after Book of Secrets, the window for a natural continuation has closed, and the franchise’s aging cast may not have the same box office pull they once did. Yet the brand remains beloved, and a well-executed film could still be a massive hit.
But Turteltaub’s promise to include modern politics has many wondering whether Disney can resist the urge to modernize a story that was pure entertainment. The director’s own words suggest he sees the film as an opportunity to engage with current issues—an approach that could easily backfire with audiences who simply want to see Nicolas Cage chase down another historical puzzle.
As one disgruntled fan put it, the franchise should be allowed to remain what it was: a fun, patriotic adventure that celebrated American history without apology. Whether Disney and Turteltaub can deliver that—or whether they’ll turn the sequel into a vehicle for political messaging—remains to be seen.
For now, fans are left with Turteltaub’s own warning. He wants to be “careful,” but he has already made clear he feels compelled to include politics. That alone may be enough to turn the film into a battleground before a single frame is shot.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2026/08/25/nolte-national-treasure-director-promises-to-ruin-sequel-with-politics/