Magician Franchise Reboots with New Generation of Horsemen

In November 2025, director Ruben Fleischer is taking the reins of the Now You See Me franchise, bringing together a star-studded cast for the third installment. Fleischer, known for launching successful franchises like Zombieland, has now joined an existing series for the first time.

The new film, titled Now You See Me: Now You Don't, sees Jesse Eisenberg's J. Daniel Atlas taking the lead as the ringleader of the Horsemen, a group of magician-vigilantes. With Mark Ruffalo's character Dylan Shrike unavailable, the original Horsemen - including Merritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson) and Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher) - are at odds over a failed heist. Atlas then recruits a new generation of young magicians, played by Ariana Greenblatt, Dominic Sessa, and Justice Smith, to carry on the Horsemen's Robin Hood-like mission.

Fleischer, a self-proclaimed fan of the franchise, aimed to bring a practical, in-camera approach to the film's magic tricks, rather than relying on visual effects. He also worked to rectify the previous films' treatment of female characters, ensuring both Henley and Lula May (Lizzy Caplan) have prominent roles this time around.

While Fleischer is excited about the potential for a fourth Now You See Me movie that could reunite the entire Horsemen ensemble, he acknowledges the challenges of juggling such a large cast of compelling characters. Nevertheless, the director remains hopeful that audiences will continue to embrace the franchise's blend of action, banter, and surprising twists.