Now You See Me 2 Overview and Production Details
Now You See Me 2 is a 2016 American heist thriller film directed by Jon M. Chu. The film was produced by Summit Entertainment and Lionsgate Films. It serves as a sequel to the 2013 film Now You See Me. The screenplay was written by Ed Solomon and Seth Grahame-Smith, based on a story by Boaz Yakin and Edward Ricourt. The production budget was reported at approximately $90 million. Filming took place primarily in London and Macau. The film was released in the United States on June 10, 2016. The runtime is 129 minutes. The Motion Picture Association of America rated the film PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, and some language. The film was distributed by Lionsgate Films in the United States. The principal photography began in July 2014. The cast includes Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Lizzy Caplan, and Morgan Freeman. The film features a new central villain played by Daniel Radcliffe. The story follows the Four Horsemen as they execute a new heist while being pursued by an FBI agent and Interpol. The production design emphasized elaborate stage illusions and magic tricks. The film's visual effects were supervised by companies including Double Negative. The film was shot using Arri Alexa cameras. The musical score was composed by Brian Tyler. The film was presented in 2D, 3D, and IMAX 3D formats in theaters. The international distribution was handled by multiple Lionsgate subsidiaries and Universal Pictures in certain territories. The film was greenlit by Lionsgate after the commercial success of the first installment. The marketing campaign included trailers and promotional partnerships with magic societies. The film features cameo appearances by several real-world magicians and illusionists.
Cast and Character Details
The main cast of Now You See Me 2 returned from the first film. Jesse Eisenberg reprises his role as J. Daniel Atlas, a card manipulator and mentalist. Mark Ruffalo plays Dylan Rhodes, the FBI agent leading the pursuit of the Four Horsemen. Woody Harrelson portrays Merritt McKinney, a hypnotist and self-help guru. Isla Fisher returns as Henley Reeves, an escapologist. Dave Franco plays Jack Wilder, a pickpocket and illusionist. Lizzy Caplan returns as Alma Dray, an Interpol agent assigned to work with Rhodes. Morgan Freeman reprises his role as Thaddeus Bradley, a former magician turned author who exposes illusions. Daniel Radcliffe was cast as Walter Mabry, the primary antagonist and a tech prodigy. Jay Chou appears as Li, a new ally and magician who assists the Horsemen. Sanaa Lathan plays Natalie Austin, an executive at a tech company. The cast also includes Riz Ahmed as a member of the supporting team. The characters use a combination of traditional stage magic and modern technology in their schemes. The film's script gives each character a distinct specialty within the magic world. The casting of Daniel Radcliffe brought a younger, tech-savvy villain to the franchise. The ensemble cast dynamics were a key focus during rehearsals and filming. The actors trained with professional magicians to perform basic sleight-of-hand techniques. The film's dialogue includes references to famous historical magicians and illusionists.
Box Office Performance and Reception
Now You See Me 2 earned approximately $334.9 million worldwide at the box office. The domestic gross in the United States and Canada was $137.8 million. The international box office revenue accounted for the remainder of the total. The film opened at number two at the U.S. box office in its opening weekend. The opening weekend domestic gross was $22.3 million. The film competed with other major releases during its theatrical run