Lionsgate has revealed that Now You See Me 3 is officially on the cards. The franchise, known for its magical illusions and heist shenanigans, is set to return under the direction of Ruben Fleischer, whose previous work includes Venom and Uncharted.
The Now You See Me series, which debuted in 2013, has been a cinematic roller coaster of sorts. While the first film was a crowd-pleaser, the second one had critics and audiences divided, proving that you can’t always trust what you see. The first film grossed over $350 million against a modest production budget of $75 million, an outcome that all but assured the making of a sequel.
Now You See Me 2 had an increased production budget, estimated to be around $100 million, but this wasn’t a sure formula to draw audiences, as it only raked in $334 million. Now, with the third installment on the way, Lionsgate will be hoping to shuffle the deck and deal a winning hand.
The heist-thriller franchise follows four talented magicians, known as the Four Horsemen, who are brought together by a mysterious benefactor. Under the guidance of a secret society called The Eye, they execute a series of seemingly impossible heists during their live performances, all while staying ahead of the authorities sniffing around.
With each film pushing the boundaries of magic and heist, the Now You See Me franchise invites audiences to question what’s possible, challenge their perceptions, and experience the thrill of the ultimate disappearing act.
Details about the plot of the upcoming film are still concealed, and it’s anyone’s guess whether the original cast will return. The previous films starred Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, and Isla Fisher, who managed to make larceny look like a Las Vegas act.
Joe Drake of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group seems to have a few tricks up his sleeve, expressing high hopes for the direction Fleischer will take. With production set to begin in spring 2024, the curtain is slowly rising on what could be the franchise’s most ambitious act yet. Fans will be eager to see if the franchise can pull off its most impressive trick yet: winning back both the box office and critics.
