After eight years in development hell, Now You See Me 3 is finally moving forward, with filming set to take place before the end of the year. Now You See Me follows a group of stage magicians who use their skills to steal from the rich and give to the poor. Their crimes attract heat from the FBI and Interpol, and they have to outrun the authorities all across the globe. The series boasts a great ensemble cast, which includes Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson and Mark Ruffalo. Although it has been eight years since Now You See Me 2, the upcoming sequel is sure to attract a sizable audience.

Now You See Me 3 could bring the franchise’s box office total over the billion-dollar mark if it performs on par with the last two. Depending on how the movie fares, it could kickstart a new era for the franchise. There have even been rumors that Now You See Me 3 could be a soft reboot of sorts, so the franchise could set up a new and exciting future. While there aren’t many details about the plot yet, the ending of Now You See Me 2 sets up an intriguing sequel, so fans have plenty of reasons to be excited for the return of the heist franchise.

8

The Secrets Of The Eye

Now You See Me 3 can resolve the franchise’s biggest mystery

Now You See Me 2 ends on a cliffhanger, as the Horsemen are finally welcomed into the mysterious organization known as the Eye, and they descend a spiral staircase to learn the secrets that they have been chasing all along. Thaddeus reveals a bit about the secret society, telling the Horsemen that it has its roots in Ancient Egypt, where magicians perfected sleight-of-hand magic to steal food from the pharaoh and give it to the slaves. This lines up with the goals of the Horsemen, who also use magic to rob from the rich and give to the poor.

The ending of Now You See Me 2 shows some of the esteemed magicians who are part of the Eye, including Thaddeus himself, Li and Allen. With the Horsemen becoming members of the Eye, Now You See Me 3 could raise the stakes even higher than the first two movies. Now You See Me 2 took a big step toward the espionage genre, and the upcoming sequel could see the Horsemen working for the Eye to try to rectify socioeconomic injustices all over the world. Now You See Me 3 must remember its roots if it does go in this direction, because the espionage might threaten to overshadow the magic.

7

Isla Fisher’s Return

Henley was absent in Now You See Me 2

The Horsemen had to find a new member in Now You See Me 2, because Isla Fisher’s Henley Grant was nowhere to be seen. Fisher decided not to return for the sequel because she was pregnant at the time of filming. The movie explains her absence by explaining that Henley got tired of waiting for more information from the Eye. While this is a rather weak explanation for such a popular character missing out, it does mean that Isla Fisher can return for Now You See Me 3, because her character is still alive and wasn’t recast.

Although Henley wasn’t recast, her role in the Horsemen was covered by a new character. Lizzy Caplan plays Lula May in Now You See Me 2, and her performance was a hit with fans of the franchise. The Mean Girls and Cloverfield star slotted in to the cast with ease, but there is no word on whether she is returning for the sequel. Now You See Me 3 should welcome Lizzy Caplan back, even though Isla Fisher is returning too. There’s no reason why both characters can’t be a part of the franchise’s future, especially since Henley’s role is unclear.

6

New Faces Joining The Cast

The franchise has added some new talent

The return of Isla Fisher isn’t the only exciting casting news for Now You See Me 3. A few new faces are set to join the sequel, and they could provide an insight into the plot. The biggest star who has signed up to join the franchise is Rosamund Pike. The Oscar-nominated actress has recently earned glowing reviews for her roles in the psychological thriller Saltburn and the fantasy series The Wheel of Time. Pike’s role in Now You See Me 3 remains a mystery, but she has both the range and the talent to play a villain or another ally to the Horsemen.

The other new cast members for Now You See Me 3 suggest that the movie could set up the future of the franchise by introducing a few younger actors. Arianna Greenblatt, known for Barbie and Ahsoka, is joining the cast along with The Holdovers breakout Dominic Sessa and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves star Justice Smith. These young actors could take the reins of the franchise if there are future sequels planned, or they could play a group of rookie magicians who require guidance from the Horsemen.

5

Ruben Fleischer’s Blend Of Action & Comedy

Fleischer’s first Now You See Me movie will reunite him with some familiar faces

Early on in the development of Now You See Me 3, it looked as though Jon M. Chu might return, but the latest news is that Ruben Fleischer will be in the director’s chair. He will be the franchise’s third director in three movies, but he could be a perfect fit. Fleischer has directed several blockbusters which blend hard-hitting action with a sense of humor, including Venom and Uncharted. His biggest hit so far is arguably Zombieland, so Now You See Me 3 will give Flesicher a chance to work with Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg once again.

Ruben Fleischer also worked with Jesse Eisenberg on 30 Minutes or Less, an underrated heist comedy which may suggest that the director will bring Now You See Me 3 back to the franchise’s roots. Although it seems set on a path toward bigger mysteries, conspiracies and espionage, Now You See Me is at its best when it sticks to its core premise of magicians using their skills to pull elaborate heists. The sociopolitical commentary and the shadowy global organizations should remain secondary, or else the series could quickly lose its unique appeal.

4

Bigger & Better Tricks

The stakes will be even higher in Now You See Me 3

One of the big factors behind the success of both Now You See Me movies has been the way that they show spectacular magic tricks. It’s difficult to pull this off, because movies can make pretty much anything happen on screen with special effects, so it’s impressive that Now You See Me still provides some genuinely jaw-dropping moments. Each of the actors took advice from real-life magicians so that they could do some of the tricks on camera for real, and this usually translates into the viewing experience.

Now You See Me‘s best tricks vary between big, splashy illusions and close-up sleight-of-hand magic. The new movie will have to be just as impressive at doing both of these things. The pressure is on to top the incredible cardistry scene from Now You See Me 2 and the Parisian bank heist from the first movie, but Now You See Me 3 also needs to nail the basics. It’s likely that the third movie will try to raise the stakes with bigger and better tricks than ever before, especially after the franchise has been quiet for eight years.

3

A Continuation Of Thaddeus & Dylan’s Relationship

Their twisty dynamic could take another turn

Thaddeus Bradley and Dylan Rhodes start out as enemies, because Dylan blames Thaddeus for the death of his father. Eventually, after both men reveal their true identities to one another, they form a begrudging mutual respect. They work together for a while before one last double cross, but the ending of Now You See Me 2 sees them bury the hatchet, as Thaddeus reveals that he actually worked with Dylan’s father, and the two were only rivals for show. Now You See Me 3 will be the first movie to explore their new friendship.

Dylan and Thaddeus are both members of the Eye, so they might find their goals are aligned in Now You See Me 3. After chasing one another for two movies, they are finally allies, and this gives the franchise some exciting unexplored potential to delve into. Now You See Me 3 will start filming soon, but plot details are still being kept under wraps, so it remains a mystery how Thaddeus and Dylan’s relationship will develop. They are both used to holding the power, which means they may not be the best match if they try to work together.

2

A New Villain

The big bad from the first two movies has been taken care of

The main villain from the first two movies is Arthur Tressler, played by Michael Caine. He is the benefactor of the Four Horsemen before they betray him for his financially motivated misdeeds, and he soon seeks revenge. He is revealed to be pulling the strings in Now You See Me 2 via his son, but he is arrested with enough evidence to send him away for a long time in the movie’s finale. There would usually be a chance that he could return in some way, but Michael Caine’s retirement from acting means that Now You See Me 3 will likely have a new villain.

Daniel Radcliffe’s character probably doesn’t have what it takes to return as the primary villain, and the only other major antagonists the Horsemen have faced, Thaddeus and Dylan, were eventually revealed to be on their side all along. This opens up a vacancy, and the franchise will have to find a new villain for the first time. Looking at the confirmed cast, Rosamund Pike seems like the most likely to fill that role, but this is merely speculation. Another interesting, but potentially controversial, option would be for Henley’s character to return as an antagonist to the Horsemen.

1

Answers About Now You See Me’s Magic

The question that has puzzled fans for a decade

One of Now You See Me‘s main criticisms is that the logic of the movies is unclear. There are some tricks which are explained or revealed, but other illusions seem completely impossible, and the movies offer no explanation for how they are accomplished. Since there is no satisfying reveal, some fans have speculated that the Horsemen are capable of harnessing “real” magic, which would change the whole complexion of the movies. It’s an important difference, because the Horsemen regularly use magic to advance the plot or escape from danger.

While many fans will be hoping for a definitive answer to whether the Horsemen are stage magicians or genuine wizards, Now You See Me 3 may be just as frustrating as the first two movies in this regard. The mystery over their abilities may be the entire point, as this would mirror the brief moment of wonder that audiences feel when they witness a magic trick in real life. Now You See Me 3 would burn most of the good faith it has built up if it reveals that some characters are genuinely magical, but it would create some questionable plot holes if it definitively stated that they aren’t.