X marks the spot for our latest TV watch. If history was your fav subject in school, then the name National Treasure is no mystery to you. While we patiently wait a little longer for the trilogy to be completed, Disney+ is keeping us satisfied with its recent release of National Treasure: Edge of History.

To hear more about how the show was made, we chatted with actress Zuri Reed (she/her) who plays tech genius Tasha. Read on for her thoughts on the OG National Treasures, whether Nicolas Cage made an appearance or not, and what worldly wonders intrigue her the most.

How did you get involved in the show?
I auditioned and got to work with our lovely casting director Veronica Rooney and met with executive producers Mira Nair, Cormac and Marianne Wibberley, and the rest of the team via Zoom sessions. Once Lisette Olivera [who plays Jess] and I were able to read together, the chemistry was undeniable. We were brought on pretty early, and got a chance to watch the family grow.

Are you a fan of the original National Treasures?
Oh my gosh, absolutely! I can remember being amazed by the Liberty Bell scenes in Philadelphia. I think that may have been my first time seeing my city on TV. It was so cool!

So did you think Nicolas Cage was gonna pop out at any second while filming?
Oh, Mr. Cage… [laughing]. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he did. Especially when Justin Bartha aka Riley Poole was filming with us, it seemed like anything was possible at that point!

What are a few similarities and differences between the movies and your series?
The really cool thing about this series is we have the same writers and producers as the films. Even the music director (Trevor Rabin) is the same! So because of that, the series automatically puts you back in the world of National Treasure. The show really does keep a lot of the same qualities we know and love from the films, like the comedy and adventure, but also brings new flair to it as well. I think it’s the perfect combo. I would definitely keep an eye out for Easter eggs hidden in the series. Not only are characters reprised, but there are artifacts from the movies that are in it, too! We definitely bring new technology and platforms to help make it more modern.

We’ll keep our eyes open! Now the characters on the show are really good at solving mysteries, finding hidden clues, escape rooms, etc. Are you the same way IRL?
My character Tasha can pretty much find her way in and out of anything you place in front of her. She’s really a “can-make-something-out-of-nothing” kinda girl. In my friend group, I’m definitely the one that can find anyone or thing that you’re looking for with only a few minor details. I’ve never actually been to an escape room, but I think after spending some months with Tasha’s brain, I could navigate one pretty well.

What undiscovered treasure/myth/legend do you think is out there?
I’m very intrigued by water. My zodiac sign is Aquarius, and even though it’s technically an air sign, I feel more connected to the “aqua” portion of the word. I’ve always thought it was strange (and kind of a good thing) that no one has been to the very bottom of the ocean. I see pictures and videos on Twitter all the time of some wild, cool looking sea creatures that people are just discovering, and it’s amazing to me! Can you imagine how much more there is left unknown?