Catherine Zeta-Jones has just picked up her next big role. Variety reports that Zeta-Jones has joined the cast of the upcoming National Treasure series that’s in development at Disney+. It was previously announced that the series would star Lisette Alexis in the lead with the cast also including Zuri Reed, Jordan Rodrigues, Antonio Cipriano, Jake Austin Walker, and Lyndon Smith.
The National Treasure series is not a reimagining as it’s described as a continuation series. The show focuses on “a young heroine, Jess (Alexis), a brilliant and resourceful DREAMer who embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to uncover the truth about her family’s mysterious past and save a lost Pan-American treasure.”
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Zeta-Jones plays 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.”
It was fairly recently announced that Zeta-Jones had also landed the role of Morticia Addams in Wednesday, Tim Burton’s new take on The Addams Family that’s in development at Netflix. She was recently seen on Fox’s Prodigal Son and Facebook Watch’s Queen America. The acclaimed performer is also known for her work in movies like Chicago, Traffic, Ocean’s Twelve, The Terminal, Intolerable Cruelty, and The Mask of Zorro.
National Treasure, the Disney+ series, is executive produced by writer Rick Muirragui, Jerry Bruckheimer, Cormac & Marianne Wibberley, Jonathan Littman, KristieAnne Reed, and Jon Turteltaub. Mira Nair also serves as an executive producer in addition to directing. Turteltaub had previously directed and produced the National Treasure movies while the Wibberleys contributed to the screenplays; Bruckheimer also produced the film. ABC Signature will produce the new series.
National Treasure 3 Might Still Be Happening
National Treasure 3 had spent many years in development hell without making any real traction. A big update seemed to come along in 2020 when it was announced that Chris Bremner had come on board to write a new screenplay for the sequel. Bruckheimer also noted his intention to bring back all of the original cast members, including lead star Nicolas Cage. The current status of the project is unclear, though the gears are definitely turning on the TV series continuation. Perhaps the success of the series will determine whether or not the movie project ends up moving forward as well.
“I really don’t know. No one ever contacted me about the third one, so I don’t know,” Diane Kruger said in January on the planned third film, per ComicBook.com. “I feel like, at this point, we’re way too old. I don’t know. I mean, I would say, ‘Never say never,’ but it’s been it’s been a minute, you know?”
The National Treasure series doesn’t yet have a premiere date set for Disney+, but production is reportedly set to begin this month in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
