National Treasure is the franchise the Da Vinci Code wishes it could be. It tackles the mysteries of history in a smart, entertaining way and it doesn’t need trumped up controversy to get people to show up and pay for seats. So get ready to be excited about the return of nerdy Benjamin Franklin Gates and his team of American History treasure hunters. The trailer for their sequel, National Treasure: The Book of Secrets, is online.
In National Treasure 2, Nic Cage’s Gates character tackles a conspiracy surrounding the assassination of America’s greatest president, Abraham Lincoln. The mystery begins with 18 pages missing from the diary of Lincoln’s killer, John Wilkes Booth.
The fourth film, co-starring John Hurt, is due for release on 22 May 2008.
Other names lined up for the action blockbuster include Cate Blanchett, Ray Winstone, Jim Broadbent and Shia LaBeouf, who is rumoured to be playing Indiana's son.
Raimi's name (Spider Man 3 director) has been floated in connection with The Hobbit ever since a very public dustup between Peter Jackson and New Line chairman Bob Shaye left the Lord of the Rings prequel without a director.