Screen to reality: The cast of 'Now You See Me: Now You Don’t' stuns fans with real card tricks at New York premiere

With its theatrical release just days away, Now You See Me: Now You Don’t has already begun casting its spell over audiences. The film’s star-studded cast brought a touch of illusion to the red carpet at its New York premiere on 10 November, turning what might have been an ordinary night of glitz into a live showcase of genuine magic. The third instalment in the popular heist franchise, directed by Ruben Fleischer and distributed by Lionsgate, officially arrives in US cinemas on 14 November 2025. Following Now You See Me (2013) and Now You See Me 2 (2016), the latest film reunites the infamous group of illusionists known as the Horsemen, this time with even greater sleight of hand and spectacle. At the premiere, the cast delighted fans and reporters by performing impromptu tricks reminiscent of their on-screen personas. Dave Franco, who returns as Jack Wilder, a quick-witted card-throwing magician, pulled off his signature move for Variety. Though he admitted it had “been a while” since he’d last tried it, Franco flicked a card across the air with effortless precision, earning cheers and applause from the crowd.

Not to be outdone, Jesse Eisenberg, who reprises his role as the sharp illusionist Daniel Atlas, demonstrated a smooth card trick of his own. His performance took a playful turn when co-star Ariana Greenblatt, who joins the cast as June, interrupted him mid-trick to show off her own bit of magic. The moment drew laughter from both the interviewer and the surrounding crowd, with the reporter exclaiming, “Damn, Ariana!” as Greenblatt confidently completed her move.

Woody Harrelson, known for his portrayal of Merritt McKinney, the quick-talking mentalist of the group, also joined in on the fun. When an interviewer handed him a deck of cards and asked for a trick, Harrelson requested that she name her favourite card. After a few shuffles and some signature showmanship, he dramatically revealed the Queen of Hearts sitting neatly on top of the deck — to the astonishment of everyone watching.

This display of close-up magic at the premiere wasn’t just for show.

In a recent interview on NBC’s Today show with host Craig Melvin, Jesse Eisenberg explained that the cast’s on-screen wizardry is backed by months of real training. When Melvin asked, “Are there actual magicians that are consulting throughout this thing?”, Eisenberg confirmed that the illusion runs deeper than most would expect.“Yes, throughout the entire scriptwriting process, there are magicians trying to figure out what tricks would work well in this movie,” Eisenberg said.

“Then, on set, we also have magic consultants. We're in magic school all day, every day. The amazing thing about this movie is that there are all these big effects, but much of the magic was done practically.”

He went on to describe just how intensive the preparation was. “I spent weeks just practising a tiny wrist movement, sleight of hand, for what ends up being a half-second trick,” Eisenberg added. “When we weren’t filming, we were learning.

After hours, we were practising with our magic teachers.” Eisenberg also shared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that his newfound skills have occasionally carried over into real life, even performing tricks for his son’s classmates at school. With the buzz from its red-carpet showcase and the promise of authentic, hands-on illusion, Now You See Me: Now You Don’t looks set to charm audiences once more.