Fact Check: Did Nicolas Cage say 'National Treasure 3' is about finding Epstein files?
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Amid the controversy surrounding the release of the files linked to Jeffrey Epstein, a rumor is circulating on social media platforms claiming that Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage said that the third installment of the ‘National Treasure’ film franchise should be about the Epstein files. The claim has sparked speculation and prompted verification.
Claim: Nicolas Cage said 'National Treasure 3' is about finding Epstein files
A rumor is circulating online claiming that Nicolas Cage revealed that 'National Treasure 3' is about finding Epstein files.
The claim has spread across multiple online platforms, collectively garnering tens of thousands of views as of this writing, drawing conflicting reactions from online users.
While many believe the claim is true, a few others remain skeptical and question whether the 62-year-old actor really made the remark.
Fact Check: Nicolas Cage intended it as a joke
The claim is indeed true, as Cage did say, “Ben Gates is going after the Epstein files. That would be relevant. I’ll make that movie.”
However, the statement was a joke and did not reveal the actual storyline of the film.
Cage made the statement during the New York Comic Con on Saturday morning, amid work on the film ‘Perish’ in Minneapolis.
No evidence suggests the film will be about the files related to the convicted offender, which, if true, would have been widely covered by prominent news and entertainment media outlets. A search on Google for the claim also did not yield any such media reports.
Director says politics delayed 'National Treasure 3'
Jon Turteltaub, the director of ‘National Treasure,’ suggested that politics was a factor in delaying the third film in the franchise and predicted the issue would be addressed in the new sequel.
According to Turteltaub, the growing political climate in the country made it difficult to keep working on the historical fiction film series, citing an interaction with former Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
"He, like others, were surprised that Democrats made that movie because Democrats can’t be patriots," Turteltaub said, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
"That’s the thought, and it just got worse. And on the Democrats’ side: ‘Oh, Republicans, they just want to keep stuff to themselves, they hate everybody, they want to kill everyone, and blah blah blah.'"
"We have to be very careful, but I don’t feel we are allowed to ignore it," Turteltaub said. "I think we have to include that idea in the story somehow without making someone feel put off."
