The “National Treasure” Disney+ series is gearing up to start production soon and has been busy rounding out its cast. According to Deadline, Lyndon Smith (Parenthood), Zuri Reed (Flatbush Misdemeanors), Jake Austin Walker (12 Mighty Orphans), Antonio Cipriano (Jagged Little Pill) and Jordan Rodrigues (Light as a Feather) are set as series regulars opposite previously cast Lisette Alexis (Total Eclipse).
The new series is a reimagining of the National Treasure franchise. The show follows a character named Jess Morales (Alexis), a twenty-year-old dreamer who, with her diverse group of friends, sets off on the adventure of a lifetime to uncover her mysterious family history and recover lost treasure. The series will also reportedly explore the timely issues of identity, community, historical authorship, and patriotism.
Courtesy of Ricky Middlesworth; Christian Hicks; Dylan Bourne; Matthew Murphy; Atlas Artists
Characters descriptions from Deadline are as follow:
Smith will play FBI Agent Ross. Ross was top-of-her-class at Quantico and was given a top assignment in D.C. But after she made a near career-ending mistake, she was reassigned to the Baton Rouge field office. When Jess (Alexis) and Tasha (Reed) show up at her office asking for help, it’s Ross’s chance to prove herself by uncovering the truth about Jess and her mysterious connection to the treasure.
Reed’s Tasha met Jess (Alexis) in high school, and they’ve been each other’s ride-or-die ever since. Tasha is fiercely independent, a social media personality, and a tech genius, who uses her platform to fight for privacy and rally against big corporations. But when she joins the treasure hunt, she’s forced to reevaluate her belief system to help her best friend.
Rodrigues is Ethan. Golden boy Ethan and Jess have been best friends since her mother Manuela tutored them as children, and Ethan’s loved Jess since the day they met. A Type-A rule-follower, Ethan will have to learn to relax his grip if he wants to be helpful on the treasure hunt.
Cipriano portrays Oren, a lovable but self-obsessed, goofball with an encyclopedic knowledge of conspiracy theories, sneakers, and business. He’ll spend the season attempting to win back Tasha’s affections and slowly learn that real love requires personal sacrifice.
Walker is Liam, a swoon-worthy, struggling musician with a permanent chip on his shoulder who comes from a long line of treasure hunters. When his estranged grandfather passes away and Jess shows up talking about a lost treasure connected to his family, Liam finds himself magnetically drawn to Jess and the promise of fulfilling his late father’s treasure-hunting dreams.
It was also recently reported that “National Treasure” has made an offer to Catherine Zeta-Jones to play the villain in the upcoming Disney+ series.
The pilot will be written by Marianne and Cormac Wibberley. Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Mira Nair (Queen of Katwe) is attached to direct.
The series comes from the original films’ producer Jerry Bruckheimer and original writers Marianne and Cormac Wibberley. The Wibberleys will also executive produce with Jerry Bruckheimer Television. ABC Signature is the studio.
“National Treasure” will reportedly consist of 10 episodes and begin production in early 2022 Baton Rouge, Louisiana. A Disney+ release date for the series has not been announced yet.
The first two National Treasure films are available to stream on Disney+.
Source: Deadline