National Treasure (franchise)

National Treasure

Promotional poster for the first film of franchise
Directed by Jon Turteltaub
Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer
Jon Turteltaub
Written by Ted Elliott (12)
Terry Rossio (12)
Cormac Wibberley
Marianne Wibberley
(12)
Aaron Benay (3)
Matthew Benay (3)
Carlo Bernard (3)
Brian Koppelman (3)
David Levien (3)
Doug Miro (3)
Starring Nicolas Cage
Harvey Keitel
Jon Voight
Diane Kruger
Sean Bean
Justin Bartha
Christopher Plummer
Ed Harris (2)
Bruce Greenwood (2)
Helen Mirren (2)
Music by Trevor Rabin
Cinematography Caleb Deschanel (1)
John Schwartzman (2)
Amir Mokri (2)
Edited by William Goldenberg
David Rennie (2)
Production
company
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release dates
1: November 19, 2004
2: December 21, 2007
Running time
255 minutes (12)
Country United States
Language English
Budget Total (2 films):
230 million
Box office Total (2 films):
$804.9 million

National Treasure is a series of political theatrical adventure mystery films distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and starring Nicolas Cage as Benjamin Gates, a treasure hunter who, with the help of his father, Patrick Henry Gates (Jon Voight), his girlfriend, Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger) and his loyal sidekick, Riley Poole (Justin Bartha), uncovers hidden troves and secrets from America's past. Additionally there are a series of novels detailing the ancestors of Ben Gates, all written by Catherine Hapka.

Films

National Treasure (2004)

The original National Treasure film centers on the Gates family legend of a fantastic treasure trove of artifacts and gold, hidden by the Founding Fathers of the United States, and the attempts by the scion of the family, Benjamin Franklin Gates, to find the treasure before his ex-friend, Ian Howe (Sean Bean), steals and destroys the Declaration of Independence.

National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007)

In the sequel to the original 2004 film, black market dealer Mitch Wilkinson (Ed Harris) locates one of the 18 missing pages of John Wilkes Booth's diary and suggests that Ben's ancestor, Thomas Gates, was a conspirator in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, so Ben sets out to prove his innocence by kidnapping the current U.S. President (Bruce Greenwood) and by finding the disappeared hidden truth.

Potential Third Film (TBA)

In December 2007, before the second film was released, Nicolas Cage showed interest in doing a third film, believing it should be more international.[1] In early 2008, Disney registered the domains for NationalTreasure3DVD.com and NationalTreasure4DVD.com (both sites are now unregistered and the second link redirects).[2] In May 2008, Director Jon Turteltaub said that the filmmaking team would take its time on another National Treasure sequel.[3] In September 2008, Jerry Bruckheimer officially confirmed that they were in the process of developing a third film.[4] In November 2008, Bruckheimer said that the writers were in the process of writing the script to the film.[5]In May 2010, Bruckheimer said that the first draft of the screenplay was completed.[6] In a February 2012 interview with Nicolas Cage, Cage stated: "...I have not heard any news about a third one at this time, and it would be interesting to take National Treasure into South America."[7] In a May 2013 interview with Justin Bartha, Bartha stated that a third installment was still a possibility and that scripts have been written.[8] In another interview in April 2014 with Bruckheimer he stated that the first act of National Treasure 3 was complete and "exciting".[9][10] On March 4, 2016, Disney CEO Bob Iger was asked a question about whether or not we might ever see another film in the series. He said "We have done two, and yes they were really fine movies. I know Jerry Bruckheimer who produced them has had conversations with our studio a number of times about it, and there have been some developments along the way, but as of right now we have not green-lit as we say, a National Treasure 3. But I do know there is time and some resources spent on development. That's all I can tell ya." [11]

Books

There was no novelization of the first movie, but a novelization of the second entitled National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets The Junior Novel was released on November 6, 2007.[12] Parts of the story in the novel version differ slightly from what was actually filmed, owing to changes being made in the screenplay prior to and during production. For example, in the novel, Ben and Abigail photograph the wooden plank found hidden in the Queen's desk and leave it behind, with the car chase following, but in the movie, they take the plank with them on the chase. Also, the date on the statue in Paris, which is also the combination to access the plank is shown as 1865 rather than 1876.

Gates Family Mystery

Disney Press has also published a series of spin-off historical novels about ancestors of the Gates Family, all by Catherine Hapka.

# Title Released Time period Plot summary
1 Changing Tides November 6, 2007 1612 The epilogue from Changing Tides is included at the back of the National Treasure book.[13] Samuel Gates and his brother, William, travel to the Americas and the newly organized Jamestown, hoping to find a fortune and rescue their family name.
2 Midnight Ride March 8, 2008 1773–1775 At the onset of the Revolutionary War in Boston in 1775, John Raleigh Gates follows the clues to find an incredible treasure.[14]
3 Uncharted August 26, 2008 1803 After the American Revolutionary War, Adam Benjamin Gates and his twin sister, Eleanor or Ellie, have heard their father's tales of his part in the Revolutionary War and his discovery of a great treasure that helped the Patriots. Soon, Adam and Ellie find themselves on a dangerous journey into uncharted lands in search of a treasure hidden deep within the wilderness.[15]
4 Westward Bound December 23, 2008 1848–1849 Thomas Gates is convinced that the treasure is located with someone or in something called the Charlotte. However, his youngest brother James Monroe Gates wants a treasure that is easier to get to. In 1848, while helping a friend on the run from her father, he reluctantly follows a series of letters his aunt, Eleanor, sent to his father, believing it leads to a treasure that is bigger than the gold of California.[16]
5 Forever Free Was to be released on April 28, 2009, never released 1872 After the death of his father, Charles Gates considers running away from his family's past of treasure hunting. However, when he befriends a freed slave named Daniel, they set off to uncover what civil rights leaders fought to protect. It was never released to the public and is not available for reading.[17]
6 Roaring In Was to be released on August 25, 2009, never released 1920s Jay Gates wishes to remain in peace and quiet, despite the economic boom of the 1920s. However, he soon learns of hints in regards to the Charlotte, for which his family had been searching for almost a century, and decides to seek adventure. It was never released to the public and is not available for reading.[18]

Characters

Character Film
National Treasure National Treasure: Book of Secrets
Benjamin Franklin "Ben" Gates Nicolas Cage
Riley Poole Justin Bartha
Dr. Abigail Chase Diane Kruger
Patrick Henry Gates Jon Voight
Agent Peter Sandusky Harvey Keitel
Agent Hendricks Armando Riesco
Ian Howe Sean Bean  
Thomas Gates Jason Earles Joel Gretsch
John Adams Gates Christopher Plummer  
Dr. Emily Appleton   Helen Mirren
Mitch Wilkinson   Ed Harris

Gates Family Tree

The tree below shows the Gates family, including Ben's ancestors mentioned in the series of novels based on the movies, Changing Tides, Midnight Ride, and Uncharted. A detailed family tree is presented in the novel, Uncharted. Benjamin Franklin Gates' direct line is in bold.

 
 
 
 
Benjamin Gates
1568-1621
 
Alice Gates
1571-1630
 
 
 
John Martin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mary Willis
1593-1642
 
William Gates
1591-1645
 
 
 
Samuel Thomas Gates
1594-1661
 
Elizabeth Martin
1595-1661
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
George Gates
1615-1679
 
Maureen Burns
1620-1679
 
Alice Gates
1617-1642
 
Benjamin Gates
1615-1660
 
Elizabeth White
1620-1641
 
John Gates
1618-1654
 
Victoria Wall
1620-1650
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Seamus Gates
1641-1647
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
John Patrick Gates
1640-1691
 
Alice Porter
1639-1697
 
Edward James Gates
1635-1685
 
Mary Dunleavy
1637-1675
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
unknown
 
 
 
 
 
Martha Gates
1657-1662
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
unknown
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Charlotte Sweeny
1726-1753
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thomas Samuel Gates
1722-1805
 
Constance White
1722-1760
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mary Gates
1748-1806
 
Elizabeth Gates
1750-1816
 
Sarah Gates
1752-1781
 
Alice Gates
1755-1821
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mercy Gates
1760-1786
 
Humility Gates
1760-1809
 
 
 
 
 
Duncan Gates
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
John Raleigh Gates
1757-1830
 
May Dunrick
1757-1824
 
Millicent Dunrick
 
 
 
Robert
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
George Gates
1785-1847
 
Adam Benjamin Gates
1786-1851
 
Eleanor "Ellie" Gates
1786-1855
 
Mr. Darby
 
Timothy Gates
1788-1832
 
Hallowell Gates
1790-1844
 
Edward
b. 1791
 
Charlotte
 
William "Will" Gates
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Arthur
 
Eleanor "El" Gates
 
Thomas Gates
d. 1865
 
William "Will" Gates
 
Samuel "Sam" Gates
 
James Monroe Gates
b. 1824
 
Sally Chandler
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Charles Carroll Gates
b. 1856
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
John Adams Gates
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Patrick Henry Gates
 
Emily Appleton
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
'Benjamin "Ben" Franklin Gates
 
{{{EMA}}}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Awards and nominations

The following is a table listing the awards and nominations received by National Treasure[19] and National Treasure: Book of Secrets.[20]

Year Association Award Category Notes Result
National Treasure
2005 BMI Film & TV Awards BMI Film Music Award BMI Film Music Award for Trevor Rabin Won
2005 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA Saturn Award for Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film Nominated
2005 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress Diane Kruger Nominated
2005 Teen Choice Awards Movie: Action/Adventure Nominated
2005 Visual Effects Society Awards Outstanding Models and Miniatures in a Motion Picture Matthew Gratzner, Forest Fischer, Scott Beverly,
and Leigh-Alexandra Jacob, for the treasure room
Nominated
2005 World Stunt Awards Taurus Award for Best Overall Stunt by a Stunt Woman Lisa Hoyle Nominated
2005 Young Artist Awards Best Family Feature Film: Drama Nominated
2005 Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a Feature Film, Supporting Young Actor Hunter Gomez Nominated
National Treasure: Book of Secrets
2007 Academy of Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Film Best Supporting Actress Helen Mirren Nominated
2008 Golden Trailer Awards Best Motion/Title Graphics Nominated
2008 MTV Movie Awards Best Movie Nominated
2008 Razzie Awards Worst Actor Nicolas Cage Nominated
2008 Razzie Awards Worst Supporting Actor Jon Voight Nominated
2008 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Actress: Action Adventure Diane Kruger Nominated

References

  1. "Cage on Ghost Rider 2 and National Treasure 3". Comingsoon.net. 2007-12-03. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
  2. Peter Sciretta (2008-02-01). "Disney Plans For National Treasure 3 & 4". SlashFilm.
  3. Bruce Kirkland (2008-05-30). "'National Treasure 3' in works". Jam!.
  4. "NATIONAL TREASURE 3 Confirmed for Disney". mania.com. 2008-09-25. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
  5. "Bruckheimer on Pirates 4, Lone Ranger and National Treasure 3". Comingsoon.net. 2008-11-05. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
  6. "Jerry Bruckheimer: 'I'm Having Too Much Fun'". Access Hollywood. 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
  7. http://www.empireonline.com/interviews/interview.asp?IID=1444
  8. http://www.hitfix.com/motion-captured/justin-bartha-says-national-treasure-3-is-still-a-possibility
  9. http://collider.com/top-gun-2-jerry-bruckheimer-deliver-us-from-evil
  10. http://www.trailer-geek.com/jerry-bruckheimer-talks-national-treasure-3-2014/2014/04/ RIKARD
  11. National Treasure 3 May Still Happen, Get The Latest
  12. "National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets The Junior Novel". Retrieved 2007-11-27.
  13. "Changing Tides (National Treasure)". Retrieved 2007-11-28.
  14. "Midnight Ride (Gates Family Mystery)". Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  15. "Uncharted (Gates Family Mystery)". Retrieved 2009-01-29.
  16. "Westward Bound (Gates Family Mystery)". Retrieved 2009-01-29.
  17. "Forever Free (Gates Family Mystery)". Retrieved 2009-01-29.
  18. "Roaring In (Gates Family Mystery)". Retrieved 2009-01-29.
  19. IMDB Awards list for National Treasure
  20. IMDB Awards list for National Treasure: Book of Secrets

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, May 07, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.