Nicolas Cage may be best known for his high-octane action films such as Face/Off, Con Air, and The Rock, as well as his Oscar-winning role in the emotionally dramatic Leaving Las Vegas. The actor is also entertaining as historian and adventurer Benjamin Gates in the National Treasure franchise.
The series so far consists of two films starring Cage as the charismatic treasure hunter, along with a talented cast including Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Jon Voight, and Harvey Keitel. In each film, Gates and his partners unlock hidden treasures that have been lost for centuries, including some that relate to Ben's ancestry. A new Disney+ Series, National Treasure: Edge of History, is set to air in December, but Cage won't appear in it. Will the series work without him?
The Series Contains Old and New Cast Members
National Treasure: Edge of History seeks to replicate the success of the films by offering plenty of action, adventure, and special effects. The show will also include a new, young, diverse cast led by newcomer Lisette Alexis, who will portray protagonist Jess Morales. She is a Hispanic Latina-American and a DREAMer who seeks to unravel the mysteries surrounding her family history and ancestry. Jess also has some young friends who will help her along the way.
While Cage's role as Ben Gates will be missed in this TV series, it's intriguing to see a new lead character, especially a young woman of color, who can bring a different perspective to the franchise. The new show also contains the usual FBI Agent (this time a woman named Ross portrayed by Lyndon Smith) who chases Jess in order to figure out her agenda.
Oscar-winner Catherine Zeta-Jones is a welcome addition to the series as Billie Pearce, a role that appears villainous based on the recent trailer. Along with a new cast, there are also a couple of familiar faces. Harvey Keitel will reprise his role as Peter Sadusky, the lead FBI agent in the films. Justin Bartha will appear as Riley Poole, Ben Gates' best friend and an ingenious computer hacker.
An Intriguing Story With Clues and Conspiracies
The primary details surrounding the plot of the series are relatively unknown, but the main focus will be on Jess and her journey. She is seen in most of the trailer, along with Sadusky (who appears to be more involved this time around). Sadusky also seems to be retired from the FBI, and he takes on more of a mentor role who is keen on helping Jess figure out the chronicles of the Morales family.
Sadusky is a valuable character. Not only does he have great chemistry with Gates in the movies, but the veteran FBI agent is also knowledgeable about American and global history. After all, he's a Freemason who knows key details like the U.S. President's secret book. According to the trailer, Jess seemingly meets Sadusky at his elegant home filled with books and shelves that serve as secret passageways. Hopefully, the series will explain more about Sadusky's backstory and what happened to him after the films.
Sadusky appears to truly care about Jess and her well-being. He tells her to trust no one and that she's been told lies about her family, including her father — who was seemingly killed by an attacker during a fire when she was a baby. This raises questions regarding who Jess' father is, why he was supposedly murdered, and what treasures are associated with Jess' family. Jess also has a necklace with an interesting symbol of a star and a swirl in the middle.
The Start Of A Successful Female-Led Series
All of these elements may seem familiar and formulaic to fans of other action-adventure franchises. They call to mind favorites such as the Indiana Jones series with superstar Harrison Ford and The Mummy trilogy with Brendan Fraser. The National Treasure series is a more family-friendly version of those franchises, but legendary producer Jerry Bruckheimer has helped make this particular franchise exciting and innovative. He brings to the series balance of humor and relationships between characters, historical context (a mix of fiction and reality), and PG-13 action (including some gunplay and car chases). National Treasure: Edge of History will contain some gunfights and adventurous scenes in which the primary characters search for hidden treasures, go through dark and hidden rooms, encounter special artifacts, and are chased by greedy villains.
Cage may have been the main attraction in the films, and men have generally dominated the action-adventure genre. However, actresses such as Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander each portrayed Lara Croft. Meanwhile, Sigourney Weaver, Charlize Theron, Jennifer Lawrence, and Gal Gadot have all achieved massive success and popularity in female-led adventure films. Now, Lisette Alexis has an opportunity to make a name for herself by bringing back a critically mixed but financially successful franchise, similar to Amber Midthunder and the return of the Predator franchise with Prey.
Alexis appears to have the right amount of charm, charisma, and vulnerability in her role as Jess. While Cage will not show up in this series, the cast looks intriguing enough to carry the show. And with Sadusky and Riley returning (along with the colored glasses from the first film), Ben Gates could return for a potential third feature. In the meantime, this new National Treasure series is set out to prove the adventurous franchise can still be run in capable hands.