Viral Rumor Claims Nicolas Cage Said ‘National Treasure 3’ Will Focus on Epstein Files
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Following widespread public interest in documents connected to Jeffrey Epstein, social media users have been sharing a rumor that Hollywood star Nicolas Cage announced the long-awaited third ‘National Treasure’ movie would revolve around the Epstein files. This viral claim has quickly gained traction, prompting a closer look at the facts.
The Rumor: Nicolas Cage’s ‘National Treasure 3’ Premise
Online posts have claimed that Nicolas Cage revealed the plot of ‘National Treasure 3’ involves hunting down the infamous Epstein files.
The narrative has popped up on several digital platforms, pulling in tens of thousands of views and dividing internet users in the process.
While a large number of social media users accepted the statement at face value, others remained doubtful about whether the Oscar-winning actor actually made the remark.
The Reality: It Was Just a Joke
Technically, Cage did utter the words, saying, “Ben Gates is going after the Epstein files. That would be relevant. I’ll make that movie.”
However, context is key: the comment was entirely meant as a joke and was never intended to outline the actual plot of a potential sequel.
Cage made the lighthearted remark during a Saturday morning appearance at Comic Con in New York, while juggling production on the movie ‘Perish’ in Minneapolis.
There is zero official confirmation that the franchise will touch upon the Epstein documents. If such a major plot point were genuinely in the works, mainstream entertainment news outlets would have widely reported it. A quick search of credible news archives confirms no such plans exist.
Why ‘National Treasure 3’ Has Been Stalled
While the Epstein file rumor is false, the franchise’s director, Jon Turteltaub, has previously pointed out that modern political polarization has played a major role in delaying the third installment.
Turteltaub explained that the shifting political climate made it increasingly challenging to develop the adventure-history series, recalling a telling conversation with former Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
“He, like others, were surprised that Democrats made that movie because Democrats can’t be patriots,” Turteltaub noted in an interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer.
“That’s the thought, and it just got worse. And on the Democrats’ side: ‘Oh, Republicans, they just want to keep stuff to themselves, they hate everybody, they want to kill everyone, and blah blah blah.'”
“We have to be very careful, but I don’t feel we are allowed to ignore it,” Turteltaub added regarding the current cultural landscape. “I think we have to include that idea in the story somehow without making someone feel put off.”