Summary

• National Treasure 3 may finally happen, providing closure to a cliffhanger from the 2007 sequel.
• Original director Jon Turteltaub teases the return of Sean Bean's character, Ian Howe.
• A potential Cage-Bean team-up could bring a nostalgic and exciting spark back to the franchise.

It's possible that Sean Bean's character will return for National Treasure 3, and this would be the perfect way to get the franchise's ball rolling again. Ben Gates' story has been at a standstill since 2007 when National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets ended with a cliffhanger that has yet to be satisfied. Though a threequel was confirmed that same year, the film has since ended up in development hell. However, original National Treasure director Jon Turteltaub has provided some intriguing updates on the project, indicating that it may still happen.

The first National Treasure movie was released in 2004 and was a significant success for Disney. Nicolas Cage's adventure as Ben Gates was exciting, and the historical elements allowed the treasure hunt adventure to stand out. National Treasure 2 brought in even more money at the box office, allowing the House of Mouse to give their thumbs up to a third film. Now, after years of waiting, Turteltaub has revealed that a script has been written. Though it must still be deemed worthy, chances are higher than ever before that National Treasure 3 will happen—but which characters would return?

Original National Treasure Director Has Teased The Possible Return Of Sean Bean's Character

Sean Bean's Ian Howe Will Inevitably Get Out Of Prison

Along with revealing that a script for National Treasure 3 is in the works, Turteltaub also mentioned one of the original movie's characters. He noted that Sean Bean's Ian Howe would inevitably be released from prison, though he was sure to clarify that this doesn't necessarily mean the character will appear in National Treasure 3. Regardless, this is an exciting thought. Bean's character was an excellent villain, and though there was minimal backstory provided, it was easy to get a sense of his combined respect for Ben and desire for his own big windfall.

Ian was arrested by the FBI at the end of the first National Treasure movie and assumedly still behind bars for the sequel. Therefore, he has been absent from the franchise since the first installment in 2004. A potential return would be a great reason to get audiences back to theaters, both because of Bean's talent and star power and the nostalgia that such a character would bring to a threequel.

Turteltaub has also stated that all of the original cast of National Treasure has shown interest in returning for a threequel.

A Nicolas Cage & Sean Bean Team-Up Would Be A Nostalgic Way To Bring The National Treasure Franchise Back

There are countless ways that Ian could be brought into the story for National Treasure 2, but a good old-fashioned rival team-up would be sure to please. After all, Ian and Ben had initially been partners. This might have only been true for the first few minutes of 2004's National Treasure, but seeing the pair reluctantly brought back together would surely come with a dose of nostalgia. After nearly 20 years of radio silence from the franchise, such sentimentality is necessary to get audiences back involved.

It would be necessary for National Treasure 3 to pick up nearly 20 years after Book of Secrets, which means Ben is likely to have been sitting on a big mystery for quite some time.

Given the ages of the actors, it would be necessary for National Treasure 3 to pick up nearly 20 years after Book of Secrets, which means Ben is likely to have been sitting on a big mystery for quite some time. The 2007 movie left off on a cliffhanger about the contents of page 47 of the Presidential Book of Secrets, so this seems like a likely option. Perhaps, after all these years, Ben will finally decide to bring in outside help to solve the related mystery, and with Ian newly out of prison, he may be the best option. From here, the ball should get rolling fairly easily.

How Sean Bean's National Treasure Character Could Be Redeemed In National Treasure 3

Bean's character was a pretty despicable villain, but he wasn't wholly unlikeable. He had a sort of criminal charm about him, and his apparent respect for Ben (albeit paired with rival frustration) made him relatable as well. In all, this means that Ian could feasibly be redeemed in National Treasure 3. Ian would certainly need to maintain his bad-boy persona, which includes his impulse to get things done in a violent and destructive way. However, if he could be balanced out by Ben (and vice versa), the pair could make for a pretty dynamic team.

Ian's redemption would likely come in the form of a test of loyalty. When he believed that he no longer needed Ben to find the Templar treasure in the original movie, he left the man for dead. National Treasure 3 would need to include a moment in which the same was true, but rather than leaving Ben behind, Ian would prove that his experience had changed him. It's undoubtedly cliche, but it's precisely the type of formula that works well in a franchise like National Treasure. If Disney hopes to recapture audiences with National Treasure 3, these are the nostalgic (and slightly cheesy) ways to make it happen.