has finally made progress on "Now You See Me 3" and is expected to start filming before the end of the year.
The Now You See Me series tells the story of a group of stage magicians who use their skills to steal from the rich and give to the poor. Their crimes attracted the attention of the FBI and Interpol, and they had to be chased around the world.
The series features a star-studded cast, including Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson and Mark Ruffalo. Although eight years have passed since " Now You See Me 2", the upcoming sequel will definitely attract the attention of a large number of viewers.
If Now You See Me 3 can match the success of the first two installments, it could push the franchise's box office total past the billion-dollar mark.
Depending on how the movie performs, it could start a new chapter in the series. There are even rumors that Now You See Me 3 might be a soft reboot of sorts, so the series could pave the way for a new and exciting future.
Although there are not many details about the plot, the ending of "Now You See Me 2" sets the stage for a more fascinating sequel, so fans have enough reasons to look forward to the return of this Inception series.
The Secret of the "Eye in the Sky"
"Now You See Me 2" ends with suspense. The four knights are finally accepted by the mysterious organization "The Eye in the Sky" and descend the spiral staircase to learn the secret they have been pursuing. Thaddeus revealed some information about the secret society to the Four Horsemen, telling them that the Eyes originated in ancient Egypt, where magicians perfected magic and stole the pharaoh's food and distributed it to slaves.
This is in line with the goals of the Four Horsemen, who also used magic to steal wealth from the rich and give to the poor.
The ending of Now You See Me 2 shows some of the famous magicians who are members of the Eye, including Thaddeus himself, Lee, and Alan.
With the Four Horsemen becoming part of the Eye, Now You See Me 3 may be even more suspenseful than the first two movies.
Now You See Me 2 took a big step into the spy film genre, and the upcoming sequel may see the Four Horsemen working for the Eye and trying to right some social injustices.
If the series chooses this direction, I hope Now You See Me 3 doesn't forget its roots, because the new direction may obscure the charm of magic.
Isla Fisher Returns
The Four Horsemen have a new member in Now You See Me 2, as Isla Fisher's Henry Grant is not in the show. She decided to withdraw from the sequel due to becoming pregnant during filming.
The movie explained her absence by saying that Henry was tired of waiting for more information from the Eye. Although this statement is a bit forced, it at least means that Isla Fisher's character is still alive and can return to "Now You See Me 3" because her character is still alive.
While Henry was not recast, her role in The Four Horsemen was replaced by a new character. Lissy Caplan plays Lula Mae in Now You See Me 2, and her performance is well-loved by fans of the series.
The "Mean Girls" and "Cloverfield" star has fit effortlessly into the series' cast, though it's unclear whether she will return for the sequel.
Now You See Me 3 should welcome the return of Lissy Caplan, and while audiences will also see the return of Isla Fisher, both characters could become part of the future of the series.
New faces join the cast
Isla Fisher's return isn't the only exciting character news for Now You See Me 3. Several new faces will also be joining the sequel, and they may provide some clues about the plot.
The biggest star signed to join the series is Pei Chunhua. The Oscar-nominated actress has recently received critical acclaim for her roles in the psychological thriller Saltburn and the fantasy series The Wheel of Time.
Pei Chunhua's role in "Now You See Me 3" is still a mystery, but she has rich acting skills and talent, and she can play a villain or another ally of the Four Horsemen.
Other new cast members for Now You See Me 3 suggest that the film may be setting up the future of the franchise by introducing some younger actors.
Barbie and Ahsoka fame Arianna Greenblatt will join the cast, as well as up-and-coming Dominic Sessa from Watchmen and Dungeons & Dragons ďźHonor of Thieves " star Justin Smith.
These young actors may take over the mantle of the series in future sequels, and currently they may play a group of novice magicians who need the guidance of the Four Horsemen.
Action Comedy Fusion
In the early development stages of Now You See Me 3, there were rumors that Jon M. Chu might return, but the latest news is that Ruben Fleischer will be attached to direct. He will be the third director of the three-film series and a perfect choice.
Fletcher has directed several blockbusters that combine intense action with humor, including "Venom" and "Uncharted." His most successful work to date may be "World War Z," so "Now Now 3" will once again give Fleischer the opportunity to work with Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg.
Ruben Fleischer also worked with Jesse Eisenberg on 30 Minutes or Less, an underrated comedy that could be a sign that the director will bring Now Now 3 back to the series foundation.
Although the series seems to be heading toward greater mystery, intrigue, and espionage, Now You See Me is at its best when the series focuses on magicians using their skills to orchestrate elaborate plots.
Bigger and better tricks
An important factor in the success of the "Now You See Me" series of movies is that they showcase wonderful magic performances. This is rare because movies can use special effects to represent almost anything on the screen, and the "Now Now" series has certainly created many memorable moments through this.
Every actor seeks advice from real magicians in order to be able to perform some magic trick authentically in front of the camera, which often translates into the movie-going experience.
The best magic scenes in the "Now You See Me" series include both large-scale, gorgeous illusions and close-up, flexible magic.
The new movie will excel in both areas, surpassing even the stunning card art scenes in Now You See Me 2 and the Parisian bank case in the first film.
The third film will likely try to up the tension with bigger and more exciting magic, which is especially important after the series has been quiet for eight years.
Thaddeus Bradley and Dylan Rhodes were initially enemies as Dylan blamed Thaddeus for his father's death. Eventually, after the two reveal their true identities to each other, they develop a grudging mutual respect. They had a final double crossover after working together for a while, but the end of Now You See Me 2 saw them put aside their stereotypes as Thaddeus revealed that he actually worked with Dylan's father, The two are only superficial rivals. Now You See Me 3 will be the first movie to explore their new friendship.
The Transformation and Continuation of a Relationship
Dylan and Thaddeus are both members of Sky Eye, so they may find that their goals are aligned in Now You See Me 3. After chasing each other throughout the two movies, they eventually become allies, which gives the series some exciting untapped potential.
"Now You See Me 3" is about to begin filming, but plot details are still under wraps, so how Dylan and Thaddeus' relationship develops remains a mystery. They're both used to being in positions of power, which means they're unlikely to be the best match if they try to work together.
A new villain appears
The main villain of the first two films was Arthur Tressler, played by Michael Caine. He was the patron of the Four Horsemen and soon sought revenge after they betrayed him. At the end of the first film, he's arrested and there's enough evidence to suggest he's going to jail for a long time.
Normally, he would probably return in some way, but in another notable addition, Michael Caine has announced his retirement from acting, which means Now Now 3 may feature a new villain.
Daniel Radcliffe's character may not be eligible to return as the main villain, and the only other significant enemies the Four Horsemen face, Thaddeus and Dylan, ultimately prove to be the ones they've always had on their side.
This opens up a void where, for the first time, the series will have to find someone for a new villain. Judging from the confirmed cast, Rosamund Pike seems most likely to fill the role, but this is just speculation.
Another interesting but potentially controversial choice would be to have Henry's character return as the villain of The Four Horsemen.
An answer that has troubled me for 10 years
One of the main criticisms of the "Now You See Me" series is that the film's logic is not clear. Some of the magic has been explained or revealed, but some seem completely impossible, and the movie doesn't explain how that was accomplished.
With no satisfying reveal, some fans speculated that the Four Horsemen could harness "real" magic, which would change the entire landscape of the movie.
While many fans are hoping that Now You See Me 3 will provide a clear answer as to whether the Four Horsemen are stage magicians or real magicians, in this regard, Now You See Me 3 may differ from its predecessors. Both movies are equally disappointing.
Retaining the mysterious nature of their abilities may have been the point upon which the entire series was built, as it would echo the momentary sense of wonder the audience would have when witnessing a magic show in real life.
If Now You See Me 3 reveals that some characters do have real magic, it will exhaust much of the sincerity it has built up, but if it explicitly denies it, it will create some glaring plot holes.
No matter how the plot is chosen in the future, retaining some of the mystery of magic is the key to the charm of this series.
