Justice Smith on Joining ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’: “Hesitant at First” But Magic Training Was a Thrilling Challenge

As the highly anticipated Now You See Me: Now You Don’t gears up for its November 14 theatrical release, Justice Smith is opening up about stepping into the iconic world of the Four Horsemen. The 30-year-old actor, known for roles in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and Jurassic World Dominion, plays Charlie—a shy, behind-the-scenes magic enthusiast—in the third installment of the illusionist heist franchise.

In a recent interview, Smith admitted he was “hesitant at first” about joining the established group of magicians, originally portrayed by Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, and Isla Fisher. “Even though we’re hesitant at first, I think we become fully passionate about doing what’s right because we love the morality of the Horsemen; we love that they’re these purveyors of justice,” Smith shared, referring to his character’s arc alongside newcomers Ariana Greenblatt (June) and Dominic Sessa (Bosco).

Smith affectionately dubbed the young trio “The Foals” or “Baby Horsemen,” highlighting their reverence for the originals. His character Charlie is the ultimate “magic nerd” who “knows every magic fact there is” and excels at planning tricks rather than performing in the spotlight. “I plan a lot of the tricks, and I make sure everything goes right, but I don’t really enjoy being in the spotlight,” he explained.

The real magic, however, happened off-screen during training. Smith revealed that learning new illusions and sleight-of-hand techniques was both a daunting challenge and an absolute blast. Co-star Greenblatt has echoed similar sentiments, spending time at the famous Magic Castle in Los Angeles to hone her skills. “He’s a huge magic nerd, knows everything about magic history,” Smith said of Charlie, noting how the preparation immersed him in the “purity of magic” that defines the series.

Justice Smith talks about joining "Now You See Me 3" and admits he was “hesitant” at first to become part of the original group. He also shares how learning new magic tricks and illusions for the film was both a challenge and a lot of fun. pic.twitter.com/SnoXCD9dH0

— Variety (@Variety) November 11, 2025

Directed by Ruben Fleischer, Now You See Me: Now You Don’t reunites the classic Horsemen for a diamond heist targeting a criminal empire led by Rosamund Pike’s villainous character. The film promises bigger scales, mind-bending twists, and intergenerational clashes that test the limits of illusion.

Smith’s hesitation mirrors his character’s journey, but ultimately, the actor embraced the opportunity. “It’s not an easy ask; there’s a lot that goes into it,” he reflected. Fans won’t have to wait long to see if the new blood lives up to the legend—the magic hits theaters this Friday.

With returning stars like Morgan Freeman and fresh energy from the “Foals,” this sequel aims to pull off the franchise’s most ambitious trick yet. As Smith puts it, it’s all about passion for justice… and a little sleight of hand. Stay tuned for more heist highs!