Dave Franco Admits He Thought 'Now You See Me' Would Completely Destroy His Career

Dave Franco is opening up about the massive hit franchise he was convinced would ruin his Hollywood prospects. Sitting down with host Sean Evans on the popular interview show *Hot Ones*, the actor looked back on some of his biggest Hollywood projects and admitted that his 2013 magician heist hit, *Now You See Me*, initially felt like an absolute disaster in the making. The original blockbuster caper centers on a group of vigilante illusionists known as The Four Horsemen, who execute elaborate stage tricks to pull off bank robberies and distribute the stolen cash directly to their bewildered audiences. Franco starred as the quick-handed card specialist Jack Wilder alongside a stacked A-list ensemble that included Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo, Common, and Morgan Freeman.

Why did Dave Franco think Now You See Me would flop?

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While the eccentric concept eventually captured the global box office and kicked off a lucrative movie series, Franco confessed that the very first day on set felt completely unhinged. Pitching a high-concept feature about stage performers robbing financial institutions sounds risky on paper, and trying to pull it off in front of the cameras proved to be equally chaotic for everyone involved. According to Franco, the overwhelming confusion during production left the entire cast deeply concerned about the project's future. He explained that after wrapping their chaotic initial day of shooting, the ensemble gathered for dinner and literally toasted to the tragic end of their professional lives. The cast was fully convinced that the bizarre caper would tank and destroy their standing in the film industry.

BUZZBEAT

Is there a Now You See Me 3 coming out?

Fortunately, their terrifying day-one fears were entirely misplaced. The high-stakes thriller became a surprise commercial smash, earning hundreds of millions worldwide, spawning a successful 2016 sequel, and keeping the core cast very much employed. Franco noted during the spicy interview that he can easily laugh about the early panic today, especially considering the team has gone on to build a thriving three-movie franchise around the illusionist crew. Facing the notorious wings of fire alongside Evans, Franco proved that even major box office hits can start out looking like absolute trainwrecks behind the scenes. What began as a terrifying career gamble ultimately transformed into one of the most successful and enduring chapters of his acting journey.