Now You See Me Star Justice Smith Gets Brutally Honest About Hollywood Smoke & Mirrors

It’s been over nine years since the last Now You See Me movie, but the magical heist series is returning! Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher, and Morgan Freeman are all reprising their roles as the skilled illusionists. They’re joined by new cast members Dominic Sessa, Ariana Greenblatt, and Justice Smith. With so much talent both returning and joining the team, the new film promises to be a truly captivating illusion.

I recently spoke with the cast of the new Now You See Me film, and we got to talking about Hollywood perceptions. I asked them what people think is glamorous about acting or the industry, when it’s really not. And honestly, Shanley Caswell didn’t hesitate for a second. She just said, ‘All of it!’ and then started to explain just how much of what we see is carefully constructed ‘magic’ – it’s not nearly as carefree as it looks.

Now You See Me’s Justice Smith Gets Candid About Hollywood

Smith described Hollywood events as completely artificial. He explained that actors walk a red carpet they’ve never seen before, wearing borrowed clothes, and pose for photographers who are simply doing their job. They then give interviews pretending to be thrilled, despite being stressed while getting ready. After that, they sit through a movie they’ve already seen multiple times, go to an afterparty, and finally go home to their pets. He summed it up as a whole performance, not genuine excitement.

Rosamund Pike, who acted alongside Will Smith in Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, shared a similar reaction, but seemed slightly more hopeful about getting movies made.

I’ve had friends visit film sets before, and they’re often surprised by how unglamorous it actually is. They see us all eating lunch from cardboard boxes with flimsy wooden forks, and it’s a bit of a reality check. But despite that, I still completely fall for the illusion of cinema. I love being swept away by the magic of filmmaking. I still get excited seeing incredible sets and am fascinated by the skill it takes to operate things like a crane – that’s what truly amazes me.

Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, and all of its magic, will premiere in theaters on November 14.

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2025-10-28 22:40