Author: Emma Loggins
Date: 2008-05-08

Interview:


The missing pages of a diary hold a secret so explosive it could change the course of history in National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets. An irresistible blend of historical fact and fiction, the high-voltage adventure stars Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage (Best Actor; Leaving Las Vegas, 1996) as Benjamin Franklin Gates, treasure hunter extraordinaire. A search to uncover the truth behind the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, is packed with breathtaking stunts, awe-inspiring backdrops and a lightning-paced international treasure hunt.

Oscar winners Jon Voight (Best Actor, 1979; Coming Home) and Helen Mirren (Best Actress, The Queen, 2007) head up an extraordinary supporting cast that also includes Oscar nominees Ed Harris (Best Actor, Pollock, 2001; and Best Supporting Actor; The Hours, 2003; The Truman Show 1999 and Apollo 13, 1996) and Harvey Keitel, (Best Supporting Actor, Bugsy, 1992) as well as rising stars Diane Kruger (Troy) and Justin Bartha (National Treasure). The film is directed by Jon Turteltaub, who also directed the blockbuster original.

We had the honor of sitting down with Director Jon Turteltaub to talk about National Treasure 2, his past with Nicolas Cage, the possibility of National Treasure 3, and so much more! Here's what he had to say:

Aside from the obvious , such as bigger, better, faster, more complex (all of which you touch upon in the DVD extras), what is the REAL book of secrets to making a successful sequel?

The key to making a successful sequel is to be able to accurately judge exactly what it was about the first movie that the audience liked. It can be deceptive and you can fool yourself. In our case, we believed that the most important element of the first National Treasure was the relationships between the characters. Obviously, the use of real history and real landmarks in the search for fictional treasure is the main concept... but what made the movie standout was the humor and warmth shared by the characters. So... we made sure to get the entire cast back together and build on those relationships.

Is there really a Book of Secrets hidden somewhere in the Library of Congress? Is there really a secret compartment in the desk of the President? Or it's pure fiction?

Well... Let me put it this way. Our rule was that we wouldn't put anything into the movie that we knew was not true. If we knew there wasn't a Book of Secrets or a secret compartment, we wouldn't have put it in. But I certainly can't prove to you that either exists. Certainly, there have been rumors and stories of this book... sometimes it's believed to be kept by the CIA, sometimes by the FBI. And if you ever go on a tour of the White House, try to sneak into the Oval Office and get a look at the desk. I'm dying to hear what you find.