Now You See Me‘s elaborate heist movie sees a group of magicians, regarded as “The Four Horsemen,” performing public illusions during their shows that allow the group to commit a series of thefts. The films are closely ᴀssociated with their remarkable sleight of hand, which begs the question of how real the magic tricks in the Now You See Me franchise are. The team is comprised of J. Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg), Merritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson), Jack Wilder (Dave Franco), and Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher), though the cast expands in the Now You See Me sequel.

Both movies in the series showcase some incredibly impressive feats of magic that keep the audience both on-screen and in real life thoroughly entertained. After a nine-year stint, Now You See Me 3 finally has a release date set for 2025. With many high expectations for the upcoming sequel., Now You See Me 3 will have to include twists that are as memorable as the ones in the first film, particularly regarding Mark Rufallo’s character. But importantly, the series has the perfect opportunity to refine its more authentic tricks.

Most Magic Tricks In Now You See Me Are Based On Actual Tricks

Founder Of The Misdirectors Guild, David Kwong, Collaborated On Now You See Me

From the very early stages of Now You See Me‘s production, David Kwong was involved in the process. Kwong is the founder of the Misdirectors Guild — a firm that provides advice to films regarding magic. Kwong was responsible for making sure the director, Louis Leterrier, interlaced magic concepts into the fabric of the main story. Kwong’s illusions incorporated traditional magic tricks, such as pickpocketing and the sleight of hand with a deck of cards. These tricks became some of the strongest, and most intriguing, elements of the film, which proves the consultant’s efforts certainly paid off.

In addition to this, the Now You See Me cast learned some magic for their respective roles. While Eisenberg learned card tricks, Franco mastered card-throwing, which was particularly useful for one scene with the FBI agent, Dylan Rhodes. When addressing the practice, Kwong said Franco had “the most athletic uses of sleight of hand in that fight scene,” (via Wired) as that the actor is really throwing the cards. Of course, some logic should be set aside while watching these films, but this definitely did help to make the scene feel slightly more realistic.

Not All The Now You See Me Magic Tricks Are Caught On Camera

Now You See Me Predominantly Relies On CGI And VFX Effects

Although Now You See Me employs real techniques, the majority of the heavy lifting within the heist saga is done with CGI. These practices were mostly required for the high-value production tricks, such as the scene in which large amounts of money disappear within a sealed steel vault, which — according to VFX supervisor, Wayne Brinton — was reportedly the most complex sH๏τ of the movie (via Wired). The final sH๏τ consisted of a great deal of compositing to ensure the scene appeared real. It was crucial for the filmmakers to create “a digital environment and make it fit with the surrounding practical set.“

These effects secured Now You See Me its coolest scenes, but fundamentally, it means that only a handful of the tricks in the movie are actually caught on camera. For instance, the card trick by Atlas at the beginning of the movie’s runtime is real, with no editing required. Needless to say, the illusions are the center of Now You See Me‘s narrative. For this reason alone, it is reasonable for practicality to take precedence over style for the creators. More importantly, VFX effects allow for a considerable scope in the film’s plot, consтιтuting a richer and more engaging storyline.

The Now You See Me Movies Require A Lot Of Suspension Of Disbelief

The Plot Can Quite Easily Be Discredited If Viewers Watch With Logic

The Now You See Me franchise tries to remain as grounded as possible, but some suspension of disbelief is important for enjoying these films. After all, it is still an extremely exaggerated universe. The plot can very quickly be discredited if audiences begin to track the ‘how’ and the ‘why,’ but this logic would strip away the most enjoyable qualities of the film. One of the most glaring examples would be Franco faking his death, or even the ending of Now You See Me, which are both completely nonsensical, yet seemingly work.

The Now You See Me movies do an excellent job of providing an explanation of the events that transpire, granting each movie a rather smooth execution. The stellar cast does help aid suspension of disbelief, too. The main and ensemble cast of Now You See Me provide incredibly entertaining performances, which enhance the viewer’s sense of immersion in the narrative.

Source: Wired