Archaeologist NORA MASON oversees a dig in the Middle East. She’s doing “rescue archaeology” to locate and preserve a site she has pursued her entire academic career. Protected by a UN force led by her fiancée DAVID, and harassed by the local crusading governor, BARKHAT, Nora uncovers a cave that contains an archaeologist’s treasure trove – writing and artifacts buried for centuries, and one exquisitely carved statuette.
While her team frantically works to save the academic treasure, looters make off with the statuette. Nora pursues and ends up boxed in, facing too many ruthless enemies. Outnumbered, and clearly about to die, Nora wishes with desperate hope that David could be with her in her final moments. When David magically appears at her side, the pair fight free of the trap, recovering the artifact.
Nora and David return to the National Museum, where Nora and her grad students, ABRA and GABIR confirm that the find will vindicate Nora’s academic theories on one ancient superstar. When David wishes for a fairy-tale wedding – and they instantly find themselves in a fairy-tale wedding – the couple realize that they’re on to something monumental. But before they figure out what, someone attempts to kidnap Nora, and ends up killing David. Nora uses a third wish to resurrect him.
Abra and Barkhat separately relate the legend of the statue to David and Nora. An ancient magician created a powerful spell that granted the bearer three wishes – but it also issued total devastation at a fourth wish. Our heroes suspect that both Barkhat and Abra want the magic for their own nefarious purposes, but need their help to get the magic out of Nora before an innocent “I wish” thought destroys the entire city.
They return to the cave and discover a secret room, which holds dozens of powerful magic artifacts. Abra proves her loyalty by helping Nora get rid of the spell permeating her, and Barkhat immediately tries to steal the magic to save his own people. David and Nora overpower Barkhat, but face an even more formidable foe – Nora’s seemingly deferential grad student Gabir has used them to track down the long-buried stash of powerful artifacts.
Gabir proves himself a fierce opponent. He outfoxes Nora and David’s attempt to escape, and forces Nora to hand over the wish magic. During a scuffle, he kills Nora, but Abra escapes. Gabir forces David to guide him into the secret room, using two wishes in the process. Unbeknownst to Gabir, David has used the third wish to save Nora.
Nora rescues David, but the tradeoff is she guides Gabir to powerful, ancient artifacts. As Nora, David, and Abra race to freedom, Gabir makes a wish – not knowing it’s the fourth wish – and the heroes must outrace the massive crater of destruction. Through skill and determination they escape, knowing that their lives will never be the same again.
