Dave Franco reveals ‘Now You See Me’ cast feared the film would end their careers

Dave Franco has revealed that the cast of Now You See Me once feared their ambitious magic heist film could become a career disaster, despite the franchise eventually turning into a major success.

Speaking to Sean Evans on an August 24 episode of Hot Ones, Franco recalled the chaotic beginning of the original 2013 film and admitted that he and his co stars had very little confidence in how the project would turn out. The actor said the uncertainty was so intense that the group decided to toast to their careers after completing their first day of filming.

"I remember at the end of the first day it was such chaos trying to figure it out, that we all went out to dinner and we literally cheersed to the end of our careers," Franco said.

The comment came while Franco was discussing the Now You See Me franchise with Evans. The series follows a group of illusionists known as the Four Horsemen, who use elaborate magic tricks as part of increasingly ambitious heists. Franco plays Jack Wilder, a young magician and pickpocket who becomes one of the central members of the group.

The first film starred Franco alongside Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson and Isla Fisher, with Mark Ruffalo playing FBI agent Dylan Rhodes. Released in 2013, Now You See Me combined mystery, crime and stage magic and quickly established an audience despite the cast's early concerns about the production.

Franco's recollection offers a striking contrast with what eventually happened to the film. The original became successful enough to receive a sequel, Now You See Me 2, which arrived in 2016. Nearly a decade later, Franco returned as Jack Wilder for Now You See Me: Now You Don't, which was released in November 2025.

During the Hot Ones conversation, Franco pointed out that the cast had now made three films in the series. When Evans suggested the latest instalment could be the final chapter, Franco agreed.

The actor said the experience taught him to approach film releases without assuming that a project will succeed or fail. He explained that he has learned not to set expectations because the eventual response from audiences can be impossible to predict.

"I've learned over the years to never have expectations," Franco said. "I know how hard it is to have a movie that hits."

He added that a successful release now feels like a pleasant surprise after the uncertainty surrounding so many productions.

The history of Now You See Me makes Franco's original doubts particularly striking. What began with a cast worried about how their careers might be affected eventually developed into a recurring franchise with an established ensemble and a new generation of performers.

The third film brought back Franco, Eisenberg, Harrelson and Fisher while introducing newer members to the story. The continuing interest in the series has also kept the Four Horsemen's elaborate tricks, rivalries and heists in the spotlight.

Franco is currently promoting Idiots, a comedy scheduled to reach cinemas on August 28. He is also lending his voice to DreamWorks Animation's Forgotten Island, which is scheduled for release on September 25.