The ‘National Treasure’ Disney Plus series has famed actress Catherine Zeta-Jones signing on. Zeta-Jones will be starring as co-lead opposite rising star Lisette Alexis for the new Disney Plus Series. This ‘National Treasure’ TV Series comes years after Disney released the Nicholas Cage movies. The first National Treasure movie released by Disney was all the way back 17 years ago, in 2004. It starred Nicholas Cage as the lead character Benjamin Gates, a man hunting down secret treasure having to do with priceless artifacts from U.S. history. The sequel came out in 2007, National Treasure: Book of Secrets. Since the release of these two films in the 2000s, Disney has not touched on the franchise much since. Except for now as Disney Plus has developed a new series, highlighting a brand new cast.
The new Disney Plus series is an expansion of the National Treasure movie franchise told from the point of view of young heroine Jess Morales (played by Lisette Alexis) — “a DREAMer in search of answers about her family — who embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to uncover the truth about the past and save a lost Pan-American treasure.” A DREAMer (is a so-called unauthorized immigrant to the U.S. who entered the country as a minor and can gain residency once they are 16). Alexis will fill Cage’s Benjamin Gates shoes as lead and take on the role of the young Latina protagonist in the upcoming ‘National Treasure’ Disney Plus series. Starring opposite Alexis, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones will portray Billie. According to Deadline, Billie is;
“a badass billionaire, a 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.”
This new path Disney Plus is taking with ‘National Treasure’ could be a real chance for them to show a more accurate retelling of history and also show the sometimes darker truths of America’s history especially having to do with immigration. Production for the series is set to begin this month in Baton Rouge.
What do you think about actress Catherine Zeta-Jones joining the project? Are you excited for the new ‘National Treasure’ series on Disney Plus to come out? What do you think about the casting decisions by Disney for the ‘National Treasure’ TV Series so far? Let us know what you think in the comments down below. We always love to hear from you here at The Nerd Stash.
