'National Treasure: Book of Secrets': On the Set

'Treasure' Planet

In 'National Treasure 2,' our favorite history buff/treasure hunter, Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicolas Cage), crisscrosses the country to clear his family name. And what a journey it was to shoot: Director Jon Turteltaub took his Oscar-winning cast (including Cage, Jon Voight and Helen Mirren) to the White House, the top of Mt. Rushmore and the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Green screen? No way. "While we were shooting we could see snipers on the roof of the White House keeping us in focus," Turteltaub told us from the Los Angeles set. Click through to read more about the making of 'Book of Secrets.'

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Nic & Diane

'Book of Secrets' picks up a couple of years after its 2004 predecessor, with Gates and Abigail Chase having settled into a big house in the 'burbs. "We left the last one sort of getting together, and in this one we start out breaking up," said co-star Diane Kruger of the adventurous couple. "She kicks Ben out. They are having their issues."

Mirren Image

The director needed a commanding actress to play opposite Cage. "You want someone who feels worthy of being the mom of a big movie star," said Turteltaub. "But we also had to pick someone to play Jon Voight's ex-wife." Fellow Oscar-winner Helen Mirren was just the woman to match the man. "The two of them have created an extraordinarily charming relationship that has really opened up the movie."

Mr. Ed

As Gates' sharp-tongued rival Jeb Wilkinson, Ed Harris reveals the problematic piece of the puzzle (in the form of a page recovered from John Wilkes Booth diary) that propels Gates on his quest. "His success gets undone through his rivalry with Harris," said Turteltaub. "Casting a villain is usually the hardest part, but Ed brings weight as well as a sense of humor."

By the 'Book'

After Wilkinson reveals one of the 18 missing pages from the diary of Booth, Gates searches for the presidential "Book of Secrets" to find out the truth behind Lincoln's assassination. "It's a book kept by all of the presidents that holds all of the secrets in the history of the world," revealed returning co-star Justin Bartha. In unraveling this American history mystery, Gates breaks into Buckingham Palace, searches for an underground cave filled with Aztec gold, and kidnaps the president of the United States.

Filmed to Scale

In keeping with the original's vibe as a fast-paced history primer, the cast and crew shot in many famous locations, though for one climactic scene in the sequel Turteltaub set his sights a little, well, higher. "We really went up there," said Kruger of the cast scaling Mt. Rushmore. "It was pretty impressive to see and get the tour that no tourist would ever really get."

Shooting for Gold

Instead of shooting in a mythical City of Gold (you'll have to see the movie to find out if it really does exist), an underground cave was created on a soundstage in Los Angeles, with waterfalls pounding the actors through several takes. To withstand the water, the cast wore protective gear. "We all have these really beautiful skin-colored wet suits on underneath," joked Kruger, who wears couture as the face of Chanel off-set. "They have to be tight because we get drenched."

Physical Challenge

The hunt takes them to subterranean levels under Mt. Rushmore, and the group faces a series of challenges, including a balancing act on a giant pendulum. "If we move then the pendulum tips and we fall into nothingness," explained Bartha, who did some of his own stunts and wirework for the scene.

Executive Orders

Though they didn't get inside the Oval Office, the cast was able to shoot outside the White House by bypassing the Secret Service and setting up on Pennsylvania Avenue, though not without a little unscripted drama. "It's pretty surreal to have to stop in the middle of a take and be told that the president is having a conference on the lawn and we have to move or we're getting arrested," said Bartha.

Memorial Days

When Turteltaub shot at the Lincoln Memorial, his number one priority was keeping the area open for tourists. "The primary concern is that we don't impede the public's ability to enjoy the location," says Turteltaub. "But what I saw on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial is that the tourists were more excited to see Nicolas Cage."

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