At the New York premiere of Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, the third entry in the acclaimed heist-magic series, fans witnessed Dave Franco’s dazzling card trick skills firsthand. The much-anticipated film brings back the original Four Horsemen as they team up with a new cohort of illusionists, with Franco’s performances in magic card tricks drawing special attention.
Franchise Returns With New Faces and Fresh Illusions
The Horsemen reassemble in this installment, but the roster expands to include a new generation of magicians. Dominic Sessa, who plays newcomer Bosco, reflected on his journey into magic for the film.
We worked with our magic coaches Ben Seidman and Handsome Jack, and I mean, I didn’t even know how to shuffle cards when I started,
Dominic Sessa, Actor.
But by the time I got to set, we were all doing a bunch of different card tricks and vanishes and stuff like that. It was amazing.
Dominic Sessa, Actor. This dedication to learning and perfecting illusions infused the cast’s performances with authenticity, as the actors embodied their illusionist roles both on and off camera.
Returning cast members such as Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, and Dave Franco embraced fresh magical challenges. Even seasoned Horsemen used the production as an opportunity to refine their sleight-of-hand and illusion skills, working hands-on with professionals from the world of stage magic.
Behind the Scenes: The Actors’ Magic Training
On the red carpet, Dave Franco described the persistence required to master his intricate card tricks for the film.
I’m very good at throwing cards, and so I found new ways to throw cards, which sounds silly, but it’s much harder than you think,
Dave Franco, Actor.
It’s me in a hotel room for a month learning a hand flourish that is maybe on screen for two seconds.
Dave Franco, Actor. This rigorous preparation reflects the lengths to which the cast went to create convincing, visually spectacular illusions.
Woody Harrelson spoke candidly about his evolving relationship with magic across the trilogy.
With the other two movies, you’d think I would have gotten into magic, but it was finally this one that I did start to develop more of a passion for it — and now I’d like to say I have a few tricks.
Woody Harrelson, Actor. For Isla Fisher, who reprises her role as Henley Reeves after missing the previous sequel, stepping back into the role required extra dedication. She faced a memorable filming challenge involving an extended, precision-heavy sequence.
There was one scene that was seven minutes long that we shot chronologically, and everybody had a trick — or actually had two tricks, but some people had, like, three — and if you messed it up, then you had to reshoot it,
Isla Fisher, Actress.
We shot it over, I think it was a day, and that was the only time that I was like, ‘Come on, Isla, don’t mess up your magic trick, or the whole crew and cast are going to be mad.’
Isla Fisher, Actress.
Commitment to Authentic, Practical Magic
Director Ruben Fleischer and the creative team sought absolute realism in the film’s illusions, collaborating closely with consultants from Los Angeles’ renowned Magic Castle. Using minimal visual effects, they focused on practical techniques to ensure audiences would feel as though they were witnessing a live magic show.
I wanted to make sure to use as much practical magic as I possibly could — wanting to do everything in camera and not rely on visual effects or motion graphics or any other tricks to convey the magic,
Ruben Fleischer, Director.
I wanted it to be as real as possible, as if you had gone to a magic show yourself and just wanted to see a show. They don’t have cuts or edits in magic shows, so I felt very, very lucky to be able to bring it all to life as naturalistically and realistically as possible.
Ruben Fleischer, Director.
This hands-on approach sometimes led to mishaps. Jesse Eisenberg revealed an intense moment while shooting in a specially designed rotating corridor, resulting in an injury.
The corridor turns 360 degrees, so you’re standing on the floor and suddenly, the floor is on the wall and then it’s the ceiling,
Jesse Eisenberg, Actor. He described injuring his finger during the scene’s physically demanding stunts, and added,
It was the most incredible set I’ve ever gotten to work on. It was also the set that didn’t like me more than any other person or set I’ve ever worked with.
Jesse Eisenberg, Actor.
Star-Studded Cast Tackles High-Stakes Heist
Now You See Me: Now You Don’t reunites Jesse Eisenberg as J. Daniel Atlas, Woody Harrelson as Merritt McKinney, Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves, and Dave Franco as Jack Wilder. They are joined by new faces, including Dominic Sessa, Ariana Greenblatt, Justice Smith, Lizzy Caplan, Rosamund Pike, and Morgan Freeman, as their characters aim to steal the world’s biggest diamond, the Heart Diamond.
With fresh characters and dynamic illusions, the blend of returning favorites and new cast members breathes new energy into the franchise, ensuring that both magic lovers and longtime fans alike are drawn into the intricate caper.
What Audiences Can Expect Next
As Now You See Me: Now You Don’t arrives in theaters, anticipation surrounds how audiences will respond to the film’s emphasis on hands-on magic, breathtaking stunts, and the team’s chemistry. The project’s use of real-world magic consultants, including experts like Ben Seidman and Handsome Jack, sets it apart in the genre and deepens the illusion for moviegoers.
Fans of Dave Franco’s magic card tricks—and of the Horsemen’s audacious feats—should expect a movie that showcases dedication to authentic illusion and brings a new caliber of realism to screen magic. The latest installment sets the stage for future adventures, as the franchise redefines what’s possible in cinematic sleight-of-hand and ensemble heist storytelling.
