National Treasure: Edge of History explained

Genre:Action-adventure
Creator:Cormac Wibberley & Marianne Wibberley
Music:Trevor Rabin
Country:United States
Language:English
Num Seasons:1
Num Episodes:10
Location:Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Runtime:45–51 minutes
Network:Disney+
Related:National Treasure

National Treasure: Edge of History is an American action-adventure television series developed for and globally released on the streaming service Disney+. It is based on, and a continuation of, the National Treasure film series. It was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, ABC Signature and Disney Branded Television.[1] The series stars Lisette Olivera, with Catherine Zeta-Jones as the apparent lead antagonist, and with Justin Bartha reprising his role from the films as a recurring character, while Harvey Keitel appears in the beginning, also reprising his film role. Mira Nair directed the pilot episode. The show primarily filmed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, and premiered on December 14, 2022.[2]

National Treasure: Edge of History received generally mixed reviews from critics. It was among the ten most-streamed original programs in the U.S. from its first week, before it reached the top 5 in its later weeks. In April 2023, the series was canceled after one season.[3]

Cast

Main

Special guest stars

Recurring

Production

Development

In early May 2020, Jerry Bruckheimer revealed in an interview with Collider that a National Treasure television series was in the works for Disney+. The series would follow the same concept as the films with a younger cast. The script for the pilot was completed, with plotting for the story continued for the rest of the episodes.[7] In March 2021, Disney officially greenlit the series.[8] The title of the show was revealed in July 2022, ahead of its panel at San Diego Comic-Con.[9] [10]

Casting

In October 2021, Lisette Olivera, a Latina actress from LA previously acting under the name Lisette Alexís, was cast in the lead role.[11] In January 2022, Zuri Reed, Jake Austin Walker, Antonio Cipriano, Jordan Rodrigues and Lyndon Smith were added to the cast,[12] with Catherine Zeta-Jones joining the next month.[13] In April 2022, Justin Bartha joined the series as a recurring guest star to reprise his role from the films.[14] On July 21, 2022, during San Diego Comic-Con, it was revealed that Harvey Keitel would also be reprising his role, as Peter Sadusky, the lead FBI agent from the first 2 movies.[15]

Filming

Principal photography began on February 12, 2022, in Baton Rouge.[16] [17] Filming moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, in late June.[18]

Music

Release

The trailer of National Treasure: Edge of History was released in September 2022.[19] The series premiered December 14, 2022, on Disney+, with its first two episodes available immediately.[20] It consists of ten episodes, with each one released weekly on Wednesdays, culminating in the finale on February 8, 2023.[21] On April 21, 2023, Disney+ canceled the series after one season.[22]

Reception

Viewership

According to market research company Parrot Analytics, which looks at consumer engagement in consumer research, streaming, downloads, and on social media, National Treasure: Edge of History saw a significant increase in demand, rising to eighth place among the most in-demand new shows for the week of January 14-20, 2023, with 16.5 times the average series demand. This marked a 29% increase from the previous week, following the airing of its seventh episode on January 18.[23] It later saw a 5% increase in demand from January 31 to February 3, 2023. The series climbed to sixth place in the rankings, with demand 16 times higher than the average series. This boost in demand occurred following the release of its penultimate episode on February 1. As the series approached its finale, further increases in demand were anticipated.[24] Whip Media, which tracks viewership data for the more than 21 million worldwide users of its TV Time app, calculated that National Treasure: Edge of History ranked as the tenth most streamed original television series in the U.S. during the week of December 18 and rose to ninth during the week of December 25, 2022.[25] [26] It returned to tenth place during the weeks of January 1 and January 8, 2023.[27] [28] The series climbed to seventh by January 15 and moved up to fourth during the week of January 22.[29] [30] National Treasure: Edge of History dropped to fifth by January 29.[31] [32] It later settled back at seventh during the week of February 12.[33] Nielsen Media Research, which records streaming viewership on U.S. television screens, estimated that series was watched for 294 million minutes from January 16-22, 2023.[34] [35]

Critical response

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 38% based on 21 critic reviews, with an average rating of 5.5/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Treating the franchise's past with an overweening reverence while padding out its new cast with cloying sidekicks, this National Treasure spinoff tumbles over the edge of satisfaction."[36] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 46 out of 100 based on 10 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[37]

Kayleigh Donaldson of TheWrap said the series is a nostalgic throwback to action-adventure TV with a familiar but entertaining tone. They thought the show effectively captured the lighthearted spirit of the original films, despite the absence of Nicolas Cage. Donaldson praised Lisette Olivera’s performance as Jess and highlighted Catherine Zeta-Jones’ stylish portrayal of a villain, saying it brought energy to an otherwise well-worn plot. While they stated that the series doesn’t break new ground, Donaldson appreciated its engaging puzzles and the subtle exploration of historical themes like colonialism.[38] David Cote of The A.V. Club gave Edge of History a B– rating. They remarked that while the series might feel nostalgic and familiar, the character of Jess Valenzuela is a welcome addition. Cote noted that the show’s approach is more kid-friendly compared to the original films and appreciated the subtle shift in focus from the Freemasons to themes of colonialism and resistance. However, they found the series to be somewhat slow-paced and criticized its sometimes grating youth-oriented dialogue. Despite these issues, Cote praised the engaging puzzles and the solid performances, particularly from Olivera and Catherine Zeta-Jones.[39]

Lucy Mangan of The Guardian rated the series three ouf of five stars, describing it as a nostalgic nod to 80s and 90s entertainment. They highlighted the show for its fun, action-packed adventure reminiscent of Indiana Jones and The Mummy. Mangan appreciated the new protagonist, Jess Valenzuela, and the engaging mix of puzzles and relic-hunting, even without Nicolas Cage. While Mangan acknowledged the series' predictable plot and some lackluster dialogue, they found it enjoyable and a good example of Bruckheimer’s entertaining escapism.[40] Polly Conway of Common Sense Media rated Edge of History three out of five stars. They praised Jess Valenzuela as a quick-minded and compassionate role model and noted the positive themes of teamwork and ethical decision-making, even when bending the rules. Conway pointed out that the series offers opportunities for family discussions on topics such as the challenges faced by undocumented individuals and the importance of perseverance and teamwork. They described the show as a "fun, light treasure-hunting series with adventure and violence."[41]

Accolades

National Treasure: Edge of History was one of 200 television series that received the ReFrame Stamp for the years 2022 to 2023. The stamp is awarded by the gender equity coalition ReFrame and industry database IMDbPro for film and television projects that are proven to have gender-balanced hiring, with stamps being awarded to projects that hire women, especially women of color, in four out of eight key roles for their production.[42] [43]

!Year!Award!Category!Nominee(s)!Result!Ref.
2023Women's Image Network AwardsDrama SeriesNational Treasure: Edge of History[44]
Children's and Family Emmy AwardsOutstanding Main Title [45]
Outstanding Editing for a Single Camera Live Action Program
Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Preschool, Children's or Young Teen ProgramCatherine Zeta-Jones
Imagen AwardsBest Primetime Program - DramaNational Treasure: Edge of History[46] [47]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Peters . Jay . May 8, 2020 . A National Treasure Disney Plus series is in development . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200601082712/https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/7/21251444/national-treasure-disney-plus-series-development-theatrical-movie-3 . June 1, 2020 . July 4, 2020 . The Verge.
  2. Web site: Schwartz . Ryan . September 10, 2022 . National Treasure Sequel Series Trailer Features Nod to MIA Nicolas Cage — Gets Disney+ Premiere Date . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220910230207/https://tvline.com/2022/09/10/national-treasure-sequel-release-date-cast-returning-disney-plus-tv-series/ . September 10, 2022 . September 10, 2022 . TVLine.
  3. Romano . Nick . April 21, 2023 . 'National Treasure' series canceled at Disney+ after 1 season . 2023-08-25 . . en.
  4. Web site: Orquiola . John . December 14, 2022 . National Treasure: Edge of History Cast & Character Guide . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230209014336/https://screenrant.com/national-treasure-edge-history-cast-characters-actors/ . February 9, 2023 . February 8, 2023 . Screen Rant.
  5. Web site: National Treasure: Edge Of History review: Series puts a breezy spin on the franchise. The A.V. Club. David. Cote. December 12, 2022. February 8, 2023. February 9, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230209030301/https://www.avclub.com/national-treasure-edge-of-history-review-disney-plus-1849876096. live.
  6. Web site: Marek . Grant . Easter egg in 'National Treasure' show raised my hopes for 'National Treasure 3' . . February 8, 2023 . February 8, 2023 . February 9, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230209000415/https://www.sfgate.com/streaming/article/national-treasure-show-easter-egg-17772319.php . live .
  7. Web site: Exclusive: 'National Treasure' Disney+ Series In Development. Vinnie. Mancuso. . May 7, 2020. July 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200531012011/https://collider.com/national-treasure-disney-plus-tv-series/. May 31, 2020. live.
  8. Web site: Porter . Rick . March 24, 2021 . 'National Treasure' Series a Go at Disney+ . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220627125544/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/national-treasure-series-disney-plus-4155468/ . June 27, 2022 . July 6, 2022 . The Hollywood Reporter.
  9. Web site: Jones . Tamera . July 6, 2022 . 'National Treasure' Series Title Revealed Ahead of SDCC . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220706181221/https://collider.com/national-treasure-series-title-edge-of-history-disney-plus/ . July 6, 2022 . July 6, 2022 . Collider.
  10. Web site: Latchem . John . July 10, 2022 . Disney+ Bringing 'National Treasure' Spinoff Series to Comic-Con . 2023-08-25 . . en-US.
  11. Web site: Andreeva . Nellie . October 28, 2021 . 'National Treasure': Lisette Alexis To Headline Disney+ Series . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211028190611/https://deadline.com/2021/10/national-treasure-lisette-alexis-cast-disney-plus-series-nicolas-cage-1234864078/ . October 28, 2021 . October 28, 2021 . Deadline Hollywood.
  12. Web site: Andreeva . Nellie . Petski . Denise . National Treasure: Lyndon Smith, Zuri Reed, Jake Austin Walker, Antonio Cipriano & Jordan Rodrigues Join Disney+ Series . . January 12, 2022 . January 12, 2022 . January 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220112224941/https://deadline.com/2022/01/national-treasure-disney-plus-series-cast-lyndon-smith-1234909447/ . live .
  13. Web site: Andreeva . Nellie . February 7, 2022 . Catherine Zeta-Jones To Star In 'National Treasure' Disney+ Series . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220208001226/https://deadline.com/2022/02/catherine-zeta-jones-star-national-treasure-disney-plus-series-1234927537/ . February 8, 2022 . February 7, 2022 . Deadline Hollywood.
  14. Web site: Del Rosario . Alexandra . April 11, 2022 . Justin Bartha Joins Disney+'s 'National Treasure,' Will Reprise Original Film Role For Series . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220411220143/https://deadline.com/2022/04/justin-bartha-disney-national-treasure-reprise-original-film-role-for-series-1235000141/ . April 11, 2022 . April 11, 2022 . Deadline Hollywood.
  15. Web site: Behzadi . Sofia . July 21, 2022 . 'National Treasure: Edge Of History': Harvey Keitel To Reprise Peter Sadusky Role; Teaser Trailer Released — Comic-Con . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230104071906/https://deadline.com/2022/07/national-treasure-edge-of-history-harvey-keitel-reprise-peter-sadusky-trailer-comic-con-1235074225/ . January 4, 2023 . January 4, 2023 . Deadline Hollywood.
  16. Web site: Bonomolo . Cameron . February 12, 2022 . Disney+'s National Treasure Series Begins Production With First Photo . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220212233814/https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/disney-plus-national-treasure-tv-series-begins-filming-production-lisette-alexis-photo/ . February 12, 2022 . February 12, 2022 . ComicBook.com.
  17. Web site: Romanchick . Shane . February 14, 2022 . 'National Treasure' Disney+ Series: Set Image Reveals Filming Start for TV Adaptation . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220214151628/https://collider.com/national-treasure-tv-series-set-image-filming-start/ . February 14, 2022 . February 15, 2021 . Collider.
  18. News: McKee . Chris . New "National Treasure" TV series to shoot in Santa Fe . . June 28, 2022 . July 21, 2022 . July 17, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220717184149/https://www.krqe.com/news/new-mexico/new-national-treasure-tv-series-to-shoot-in-santa-fe/ . live .
  19. Romano . Nick . September 10, 2022 . 'National Treasure' series kicks off new adventure in first trailer . 2024-09-16 . . en.
  20. Web site: Freitag . Lee . September 10, 2022 . Disney's National Treasure Series Drops Its First Poster, Images . 2024-09-16 . . en.
  21. Web site: Piazza . Bianca . December 14, 2022 . Uncovering the 'National Treasure: Edge of History' Episode Release Schedule . 2024-09-16 . . en-US.
  22. Web site: Andreeva . Nellie . April 21, 2023 . 'National Treasure' Canceled By Disney+ After One Season . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230421220324/https://deadline.com/2023/04/national-treasure-canceled-disney-plus-one-season-1235333817/ . April 21, 2023 . April 21, 2023 . Deadline Hollywood.
  23. Web site: Wads . Andrea . January 25, 2023 . Jinkies! 'Velma' Demand Surges 127% - a Critic-Defying Win for HBO Max Chart . 2024-09-16 . . en-US.
  24. Web site: Wads . Andrea . February 8, 2023 . Peacock's 'Poker Face' Hits the Jackpot With Highest Increase in Demand for New Shows Chart . 2024-09-16 . . en-US.
  25. Web site: Prange . Stephanie . December 21, 2022 . 'Black Adam', 'Wednesday' Top Weekly Whip U.S. Streaming Charts . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221227180501/https://www.mediaplaynews.com/black-adam-wednesday-top-weekly-whip-u-s-streaming-charts/ . December 27, 2022 . December 27, 2022 . . en-US.
  26. Web site: Prange . Stephanie . December 28, 2022 . 'Glass Onion,' '1923' Top Weekly Whip U.S. Streaming Charts . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230103230057/https://www.mediaplaynews.com/glass-onion-1923-top-weekly-whip-us-streaming-charts/ . January 3, 2023 . January 3, 2023 . . en-US.
  27. Web site: Prange . Stephanie . January 5, 2023 . 'Glass Onion,' 'Jack Ryan' Top Weekly Whip U.S. Streaming Charts . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230110000043/https://www.mediaplaynews.com/glass-onion-jack-ryan-top-weekly-whip-us-streaming-charts/ . January 10, 2023 . January 10, 2023 . . en-US.
  28. Web site: Prange . Stephanie . January 10, 2023 . '1923,' 'The Menu' Top Weekly Whip U.S. Streaming Charts . February 3, 2023 . . en-US.
  29. Web site: Prange . Stephanie . January 17, 2023 . 'The Menu,' '1923' Again Top Weekly Whip U.S. Streaming Charts . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230204120329/https://www.mediaplaynews.com/the-menu-1923-again-top-weekly-whip-us-streaming-charts/ . February 4, 2023 . February 3, 2023 . . en-US.
  30. Web site: Prange . Stephanie . January 24, 2023 . 'Criminal Minds,' 'The Menu' Top Weekly Whip U.S. Streaming Charts . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230204120311/https://www.mediaplaynews.com/criminal-minds-the-menu-top-weekly-whip-us-streaming-charts/ . February 4, 2023 . February 3, 2023 . . en-US.
  31. Web site: Prange . Stephanie . January 31, 2023 . 'How I Met Your Father,' 'You People' Top Weekly Whip U.S. Streaming Charts . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230131215422/https://www.mediaplaynews.com/how-i-met-your-father-you-people-top-weekly-whip-u-s-streaming-charts/ . January 31, 2023 . February 3, 2023 . . en-US.
  32. Web site: Prange . Stephanie . February 7, 2023 . 'How I Met Your Father,' 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' Top Weekly Whip U.S. Streaming Charts . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230208010951/https://www.mediaplaynews.com/how-i-met-your-father-black-panther-wakanda-forever-top-weekly-whip-u-s-streaming-charts/ . February 8, 2023 . February 8, 2023 . . en-US.
  33. Web site: Prange . Stephanie . 2023-02-14 . Netflix's 'You,' 'Your Place or Mine' Top Weekly Whip U.S. Streaming Charts . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230310171244/https://www.mediaplaynews.com/netflixs-you-your-place-or-mine-top-weekly-whip-us-streaming-charts/ . March 10, 2023 . 2023-03-10 . . en-US.
  34. Web site: Porter . Rick . February 16, 2023 . 'That '90s Show' Rocks Big Debut in Streaming Rankings . 2024-09-16 . . en-US.
  35. Web site: Mitovich . Matt Webb . February 16, 2023 . That '90s Show Hits Nielsen Streaming Top 10 at No. 2; Last of Us Rises to No. 6 on Overall Chart With Just 2 Episodes . 2024-09-16 . . en-US.
  36. national_treasure_edge_of_history. National Treasure: Edge of History. tv. 1. February 8, 2023. y.
  37. national-treasure-edge-of-history. National Treasure: Edge of History. tv. 1. January 4, 2023. y.
  38. Web site: Donaldson . Kayleigh . December 14, 2022 . 'National Treasure: Edge of History' Review: Disney+ Series Is a Joyful, Throwback Adventure . 2024-09-16 . . en-US.
  39. Web site: Cote . David . December 12, 2022 . National Treasure: Edge Of History review: Series puts a breezy spin on the franchise . 2024-09-16 . . en-US.
  40. News: Mangan . Lucy . December 14, 2022 . National Treasure: Edge of History review – the mindless days of the 90s are back! . 2024-09-16 . . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  41. Web site: Conway . Polly . National Treasure: Edge of History TV Review Common Sense Media . 2024-09-16 . . en.
  42. Web site: August 16, 2023 . ReFrame and IMDbPro Award the ReFrame Stamp for Gender-Balanced Hiring to 94 of the 200 Most Popular TV and Streaming Series of 2022–23, including Emmy Nominees Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Yellowjackets, and Wednesday . 2023-08-25 . . en.
  43. News: August 16, 2023 . ReFrame and IMDbPro Award the ReFrame Stamp for Gender-Balanced Hiring to 94 of the 200 Most Popular TV and Streaming Series of . en . . 2023-08-25.
  44. Web site: Drama Series . 2023-10-12 . . en.
  45. Web site: Coates . Tyler . November 2, 2023 . Children's & Family Emmy Awards: Disney Dominates Nominations . November 26, 2023 . The Hollywood Reporter.
  46. Web site: Foundation . Imagen . December 3, 2023 . Flamin' Hot Takes Home Best Feature Film, Best Director and Best Actor at 38th Annual Imagen Awards . 2024-08-06 . . en-US.
  47. Web site: Tinoco . Armando . December 3, 2023 . Imagen Awards 2023 Complete Winners List: Eva Longoria & 'Flamin' Hot' Take Top Honors In Film . 2024-08-06 . . en-US.

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