Disney has added another name to the already star-studded cast list of the National Treasure sequel. Alicia Coppola, who is known for her role on the highly-acclaimed CBS drama series, Jericho, will be appearing in National Treasure: Book of Secrets as Agent Dawes.

The film is under the direction and production of Jon Turteltaub, who also serves as one of Jericho’s executive producers. In the first installment, the protagonist, Benjamin Franklin Gates (portrayed by Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage), embarked on a search for hidden treasure using a map ingeniously printed on the back of the Declaration of Independence. For the sequel, Turteltaub told the LA Daily News last year that the characters would reach “exciting destinations within America as well as around the world. As we were shooting the first one, it kept changing, so I'm scared to commit to anything, but I wouldn't be surprised if Mount Rushmore made an appearance.”

In the same interview, Turteltaub also discussed his involvement with the post-apocalyptic drama series, Jericho, which features Coppola as IRS agent Mimi Clark. Prior to her inclusion on the show, Coppola had appeared in a number of small screen hits like Star Trek: Voyager, American Dreams, Crossing Jordan, Huff, Two and a Half Men, Las Vegas, Bones, NCIS and CSI: NY. Her initial claim to fame was her portrayal of Lorna Devon on the daytime drama, Another World. She also has not been a stranger to the big screen, having appeared in such films as Becoming Marty, Sin and Velocity Trap.

National Treasure: Book of Secrets is set to be released at the end of this year. Aside from Cage, Coppola will be sharing the big screen with other Academy Award winners and nominees, namely Helen Mirren, Jon Voight, Ed Harris and Harvey Keitel. The film will also star Justin Bartha and German Actress Diane Kruger.

- Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist

Source: Variety

(photo courtesy of Variety)