It’s official: Disney+ has greenlit a National Treasure TV series. The show, a spinoff of the two films starring Nicolas Cage, is set for 10 episodes and titled National Treasure: Edge of History. The series will follow Jess Morales as the primary protagonist. Lisette Alexis (Total Eclipse) will play Jess. The character is a 20-year-old DREAMer (someone who entered the United States as part of the DREAM Act). We’ll see her set off on an adventure with her friends to uncover her family’s history and recover… you guessed it, lost treasure—a lost Pan-American treasure.
Including treasure in a National Treasure TV series is a must! Putting a Latina lead at the center of the story means exploring identity, patriotism, and community. And they’ll have plenty of opportunities to explore historical authorship. Because we all know history has more than one side.
Jerry Bruckheimer will serve as producer. Plus the writers for the first two National Treasure films, Cormac Wibberley and Marianne Wibberley, are part of the TV series team. Mira Nair (Vanity Fair, A Suitable Boy) will direct.
The National Treasure TV Series Cast
We have our first look at Jess and her friends in the series. Looks like we’ll have to tune in to see why they’re in prison jumpsuits. Lyndon Smith, Zuri Reed, Jake Austin Walker, Antonio Cipriano, and Jordan Rodrigues will join Lisette Alexis. The latter actors play “Jess’ friends whom she recruits to help uncover the truth about her parents and their connection to the treasure.” Meanwhile, “Smith stars as FBI Agent Ross who assists in the quest.” Tommy Savas also joins the series in a “key recurring role.” And recently, we learned that Catherine Zeta-Jones has joined the cast as well.
Zeta-Jones will play Billie, “a badass billionaire, black-market antiquities expert, and treasure hunter who lives by her own code. She transformed herself from a penniless orphan to a shrewd, stylish businesswoman and adventurer. Billie’s used to getting what she wants—and she wants the Pan-American treasure. But not just for the money. This treasure has deeper stakes for her.” Honestly, that sounds like an amazing character.
Justin Bartha will reprise his role of Riley Poole. He’ll return to guest star in the series. Let’s hope Riley has found more success and written more books. Also, maybe the IRS has left him alone by now.
As of right now, it doesn’t look like Nicolas Cage will appear in the series. While promoting The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, he did an interview with GQ and mentioned National Treasure 3. He made it sound like Disney wasn’t interested in having him back. However, that may not extend to the TV series. We’d love to see a guest appearance.
Originally published March 24, 2021.
