National Treasure: Edge of History

National Treasure: Edge of History is a Disney television series that expands the mythology established by the National Treasure films. It premiered on Disney+ on December 14, 2022, and was developed by Cormac and Marianne Wibberley, writers of both movies. The story follows Jess Valenzuela, played by Lisette Oliver, a twenty-year-old dreamer who discovers that her family history conceals secrets. After receiving a mysterious clue from a dying stranger, Jess investigates her late mother's connection to a centuries-old treasure hunt. Her search links to a hidden history involving the Aztec ruler Montezuma, Spanish conquistadors, and the legendary treasure of Lima. Unlike Benjamin Gates, the films' historian protagonist, Jess begins without wealth, authority, or specialized expertise, relying heavily on friends instead. Her closest allies include Tasha Rivers, played by Zuri Reed, and Oren Bradley, played by Antonio Cipriano, who contribute distinct skills. Liam Sadusky, portrayed by Jake Austin Walker, is the grandson of Peter Sadusky, the FBI agent from the original films. Riley Poole, Justin Bartha's character from the films, also appears, connecting Jess's adventure directly to the earlier cinematic story onscreen. The series uses puzzles, coded messages, historical documents, secret societies, and dangerous rivals to move its investigation across North America. Jess's investigation moves across several countries, as clues reveal a conspiracy reaching beyond borders and through generations of powerful families. The opposing force is Billie Pearce, played by Catherine Zeta-Jones, a billionaire antiquities dealer whose pursuit of the treasure complicates. Her presence changes the conflict from a private mystery into a contest involving money, power, historical claims, and betrayal too. The program premiered with ten episodes in its first season, giving Jess's group time to develop friendships alongside its mythology. Disney+ canceled the series after one season, so the first season ends without a continuation for its characters or its mythology. That cancellation makes the season's revelations especially significant: viewers see Jess claim her inheritance of courage and curiosity rather than certainty. The show also treats historical artifacts as contested objects, emphasizing how museums, collectors, governments, and families can interpret ownership differently. Its central mystery is not simply a hunt for gold; it asks who controls the past and profits from it. Oliver's performance presents Jess as energetic but inexperienced, while Reed and Cipriano give the team contrasting emotional and comic rhythms. The series preserves the franchise's familiar mix of history, riddles, chases, and family drama while shifting attention toward younger protagonists today. Ultimately Edge of History is a standalone Disney+ chapter with direct links to the films and an unresolved future ahead.