'Now You See Me 3' Conjures Up Two New Writers

‘Now You See Me 3’ Conjures Up Two New Writers

The success of the firstNow You See Meseemed to take everyone by surprise, but it wasn’t long before Lionsgate reacted by commissioning a secondNow You See Me. And then announcing a third, before the second one even opened. Unfortunately,Now You See Me 2failed to match the buzz of the original, and wound up taking in just $65 million at the domestic box office.

Still, Lionsgate isn’t giving up on this franchise. The studio is pressing onward withNow You See Me 3, settingNeil WidenerandGavin Jamesto write the script.Jon M. Chu, who helmed the last film, is still attached to direct.

Deadlinebroke the news of theNow You See Me 3writers. Details onNow You See Me 3are sparse but “most” of the cast is expected back. The story will once again focus on the Four Horsemen (played inNow You See Me 2byJesse Eisenberg,Woody Harrelson,Lizzy Caplan, andDave Franco) as they use the art of illusion to steal from the rich.Bobby Cohenwill produce withAlex KurtzmanandJeb Brody.

Lionsgate first announced plans to makeNow You See Me 3last May, over a year beforeNow You See Me 2arrived in theaters, while Chu signed on in April of this year. However, this is the first significant update on the project since the box office receipts came in forNow You See Me 2, which opened over the summer.

Widener and James are a pair of up-and-comers who recently scripted Paramount’sBattle of Alcatraz, which will be produced byBridge of Spiesscreenwriter Matt Charman. They’ve also been hired to penSan Andreas 2for New Line.

The firstNow You See Meopened in 2013 and became a sleeper hit. While critics were mixed on the magician caper, audiences seemed taken in by the high-wattage cast and the original story. However, they seemed less enthused byNow You See Me 2. The sequel ultimately grossed about $334 million worldwide, a slight step down from the $351 million worldwide that the first movie made.

One country thatlovedthe sequel, though? China.Now You See Me 2gave Lionsgate their biggest opening ever in the country, and wound up raking in $97 million there when all was said and done. Chinese audiences likedNow You See Me 2so much, in fact, that Lionsgate is plotting a Chinese-language spinoff in conjunction with the Beijing-based Leomus Pictures. In other words, it’s probably China we have to thank and/or blame for the continued development ofNow You See Me 3.

Now You See Me 3does not currently have a release date.