Director Reveals How He Fixed Magic Problems in Latest Sequel
Ruben Fleischer discusses his approach to grounding the franchise's magic tricks in reality, reshoot decisions for new cast members, and technical secrets behind key scenes in the third installment.
Director Ruben Fleischer stepped into the Now You See Me franchise with one clear goal: make the magic believable again. The previous two movies earned solid box office numbers but faced criticism for relying too heavily on computer effects, making the magicians look more like supernatural beings than skilled performers.
In a recent conversation, Fleischer shared his approach to bringing authenticity back to the series, the technical challenges of creating convincing hologram effects, and why he decided to reshoot introduction scenes for the new cast members.
Creating Believable Hologram Effects
The opening sequence required a delicate balance. The holograms needed to fool the audience within the movie while still appearing slightly off to viewers watching at home. Fleischer explained his team's approach to achieving this uncanny effect.
"I wanted it to be a little bit uncertain to the audience what they were watching," Fleischer said. "We were working on the presumption that the kids would have had access to footage of the Horsemen from the time of the previous movies, which was ten years ago. We performed a digital de-aging pass, removing wrinkles to make them appear ten years younger."
The artificial quality came from several technical choices. The projected characters remained completely stationary since they were being displayed on screens. More subtly, the visual effects team removed all shadows from the holographic figures while leaving shadows for the live actors on stage.
Grounding Magic in Reality
Fleischer acknowledged the franchise's previous reliance on spectacular but unrealistic effects. He even watched a YouTube video questioning whether the magicians were actually wizards while preparing for his film.
"I was a fan of the previous two movies, but at times I felt like they relied too heavily on the effects," he admitted. "When I saw that, I realized we had to right the ship a little bit."
The production brought in magic consultants to verify every trick's feasibility. Even elaborate sequences like the helicopter illusion were based on real stage performances. The team prioritized practical, in-camera effects whenever possible.
Reshaping New Character Introductions
The addition of Dominic Sessa, Ariana Greenblatt, and Justice Smith required careful handling to balance their presence with returning favorites. Initial test screenings revealed problems with audience connection to the newcomers.
"We reshot their intro scenes," Fleischer revealed. "Originally, the scene where they are walking on the street and the scene in the warehouse were scenes at a carnival. It just didn't introduce them in the most dynamic way."
The reshoots focused on establishing relationships between the new characters and creating stronger first impressions. Since these characters appear before the returning cast members, their introduction scenes needed particular attention to ensure audience investment in their journey.
Looking ahead, Fleischer expressed enthusiasm about the expanded ensemble possibilities. With eight magicians now available for future adventures, the franchise has more flexibility for different story directions. The director promised that fans who enjoyed this latest entry can expect bigger and better magic in upcoming installments.