Walking down the streets of New York, people looked up to see a mysterious billboard in Times Square flashing the words ‘Now You See Me’ as well as a countdown from a TikTok live stream, with a phone number attached, labeled ‘Text For Magic’. When the clock hit zero, every single participant who reached that phone number received $119.That was when the world learned: The Four Horsemen had returned.

   On the 31st of May, 2013, the world was introduced to the illusionistic movie Now You See Me, starring actors Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Mark Ruffalo, and Morgan Freeman. A story of four magicians of different varieties, banding together by a force unknown to expose the rich and give to the poor- a classic Robin Hood tale. 

   After the success of the first movie, grossing $371,723,989 worldwide, only a little time passed before Jon Feltheimer confirmed that there was talk of a sequel, beginning production in 2014. Then, on the 6th of June 2016, Now You See 2 was released to the public, adding Lizzie Caplan and Daniel Radcliffe to the cast, and grossing $334,897,606 worldwide. And despite making less money than the original film, fans were still in love with the sequel. 

   Then there was nothing. Feltheirmer teased a third instalment back in 2015, but after that, nobody heard anything about the project, and society assumed it was silently canceled, that the beloved Four Horsemen would be retired for good. 

   Then, out of the blue, in 2020, almost five years after the announcement of Now You See Me 3 being a possibility, it was revealed that American Screenwriter Eric Warren Singer was brought on to the project, writing for it, and in 2022, Ruben Fleischer was announced to be directing the film. With this, the fans’ hopes for another instalment returned.

   Then one day, playing on a billboard in Times Square was a live countdown with the title “Now You See Me” flashing, and a phone number fans could call. Puzzling most, they called that phone number, and fans received a Venmo transfer of $119 each for everyone who called as the countdown reached zero, and the first official trailer for Now You See Me 3 was released, revealing the true title: “Now You See Me; Now You Don’t”. In the end, the production team ended up giving away a total of $250,000 to approximately 2100 people in promotion for the film’s official announcement. 

   With the release of the trailers and endless promotions, fans of the franchise have noticed a few notable absences from the trailers, including Caplan and Ruffulo, who are noticeably missing from promotions. This was a big deal for some, as Ruffalo’s character, Agent Dylan Rhodes, is a pivotal member of the secret organization of magicians known as “The Eye”.

   Now You See Me 2 introduced the new character Lula May, played by Caplan as a replacement for Fisher’s character Henley Reeves, as Fisher was on maternity leave during filming. Fans adore Caplan’s character, so her disappearance in promotions for the recent instalment has not gone unnoticed. When Eisenberg was asked about Caplan’s character returning, all he did was raise more questions.

   “I’ll put it this way. The surprise appearances in the movie are just as much fun as they are surprising. These are not boring appearances. It’s the best kind of shock because it’s a surprise but also done in such an unusual way.” Said Eisenberg in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

   With the film set to release on the 14th of November, fans are excited for our beloved horseman to make their magical return, with fun sneak peeks of some of the tricks that will be used in the film, including a possible return of Fisher’s iconic Fish Tank act from the first film. 

   The film, as well is introduces at least four new characters, three new magicians played by actors Ariana Greenblatt, Dominic Sessa, and Justice Smith, who will seemingly be apprentices under Atlas in the movie. The film also introduces Rosamund Pike into the fray, potentially playing the villain, while if she has any time to the films’ first and second villains, Arthur Tressler and Walter Mabry, played by Michael Cain and Radcliffe, is unsure at this point in time, as the previously mentioned antagonists were revealed to be father and son in the second film.

The wait is finally over. After nine years of anticipation, disappointment, and hope, Now You See Me has returned with a thrilling comeback, and already rumors are circulating about a potential fourth installment. With the team already continuing with their amazing marketing and giving out free tickets, two per person, to whoever submits the code NOWUSEEME to any local Atoms Theater last week, with fans jumping to gain the free access. The world can’t wait to see what the Four Horsemen have in store for us next!