Magician heist sequel Now You See Me 3 – in the works for years – is finally set to begin filming in the next six months according to star Jesse Eisenberg.
Proving that time itself is a dark illusion, it’s now over a decade since the original Now You See Me materialised in cinemas. Directed by Louis Leterrier, its magician-based twist on the knock-about heist format – a kind of Oceans 11 with wands – made it a decent hit, spawning a miniature franchise.
According to Jesse Eisenberg, who recently spoke to Collider, Now You See Me 3 – a sequel talked about as long ago as 2015 – is finally due to get underway this year.
Responding that he’s read the script, Eisenberg told the outlet that “Hopefully it will happen in the next six months,” and added that “it’s really great.”
Both the 2013 original and its 2016 sequel were enlivened by their starry ensemble casts, with Eisenberg joined by Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher and Morgan Freeman to name but a few.
The last we heard, the sequel – described as a ‘reimagining’ – would be directed by Ruben Fleischer (Venom, Uncharted), while the screenplay was being written by Seth Grahame-Smith. As for returning stars, Morgan Freeman and Harrelson are said to be reprising their roles, though there’s currently no official word on whether those other names mentioned above will also sign up.
Interestingly, Eisenberg may also have dropped the title for the upcoming sequel, saying, “I’m reading this new script for Now You See Me, or Now You 3 Me as we’ve been calling it”. Eisenberg then added, “I’ll get in trouble for that,” which might imply that Now You 3 Me is currently its official title rather than an in-joke.
He’s enthusiastic about the quality of the script, though, and how it’ll provide the basis for another adventure for its ensemble cast. “When I see that it’s filled with these great actors,” Eisenberg said of the script, “it makes me really excited.”
More on this as we get it.
