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‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’ Digital Release Interview
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Available on premium digital from Lionsgate December 16th is the box office hit ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’, which is the third film in the popular franchise and was directed by Ruben Fleischer (‘Venom’).
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The movie stars returning cast members Jesse Eisenberg (‘Zombieland’), Woody Harrelson (‘Zombieland: Double Tap’), Dave Franco (‘Together’), Isla Fisher (‘Rango’), Lizzy Caplan (‘Cloverfield’), and Morgan Freeman (‘The Dark Knight’), as well as new cast members Justice Smith (‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’), Dominic Sessa (‘The Holdovers’), Ariana Greenblatt (‘Barbie’), and Rosamund Pike (‘Saltburn’).

(L to R) Dave Franco as Jack Wilder, Jesse Eisenberg as Daniel Atlas, and Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves in ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’. Photo: Katalin Vermes.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Ruben Fleischer about his work on ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’, joining the franchise, reuniting with his ‘Zombieland’ actors Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson, Rosamund Pike’s hilarious performance, the new cast members, creating the illusions on screen, and if he would return to helm a fourth movie.

You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews.

Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’

‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’ director Ruben Fleischer.

Moviefone: To begin with, as a filmmaker, can you talk about the challenges of joining a successful series to direct the third installment of a franchise?

Ruben Fleisher: I approach this movie as a fan of the franchise. I love the first two movies. So, for me, the pressure of trying to make it as good as the previous two was so much self-imposed because I didn’t want to disappoint my fellow fans of the franchise. So, I did everything in my power to carry on the spirit of the original and clean up some of the things that happened in the past. For example, Henley (Isla Fisher) was in the first movie and then was replaced by Lulu (Lizzy Caplan) without much explanation. So, it was important to me that both be in the film, just because as a fan, I wanted to see those two women together, because they’re both so great. So, just carrying forward all the magic, all the fun, the banter, the relationships and everything else. So, the big challenge was just feeling the pressure not to disappoint fans.

(L to R) Justice Smith as Charlie, Jesse Eisenberg as Daniel Atlas, and Woody Harrelson as Merrit McKinney in ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes.

MF: Did it help that you already had a good working relationship with Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson from making the ‘Zombieland’ movies?

RF: I was lucky because I had a pre-existing relationship with Woody and Jesse, so I had a familiarity and a comfort level and that’s what drew me to the project in the first place. I was lucky to have the help of two longtime collaborators to make sure that we did our best work. This was my fourth movie with each of them. We all did the two ‘Zombieland’ movies together and then Jesse and I did ‘30 minutes or Less’ and Woody was in the tease at the end of ‘Venom’. But I love working with those two guys, and I also knew that they loved working with the rest of the cast. I was a huge fan of Dave Franco, Isla Fisher and Lizzie Caplan. So, for me, it was just an opportunity to work with more actors that I really love, but I had also heard from Jesse and Woody about what a great dynamic everybody had on set and how they felt like a family among themselves. So, I was just happy to join the family.

Rosamund Pike as Veronika in ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes.

MF: Actress Rosmund Pike gives a fantastic performance in the movie. Can you talk about casting and working with her?

RF: I have been a fan of hers for a long time. I mean, she’s so good going back to ‘Die Another Day’ or ‘Gone Girl’, but it was really seeing her recently in ‘Saltburn’, where I felt like she just stole every scene that she was in, and she was so funny. In addition to being a challenging character, I think movies to a degree are only as good as the villains. You need someone formidable, and especially when you have such a strong ensemble as we have, with such incredible actors, you need someone who feels equally weighted in terms of screen presence, threat, charisma and everything that makes a great movie character. So, Rosamund’s somebody who, beyond her dramatic ability, beyond her obvious beauty, she just tends to make her characters delicious and more than what’s expected. So, it was exciting for me to. She brought so much to it. She has an incredible, natural aptitude for accents, and the South African accent is very specific and challenging. I’m so proud of the fact that when South Africans have watched the movie, and I’ve talked to them about it, they have told me they’ve never heard a non-South African have such a perfect accent as that. So that was really gratifying to learn. But she’s just got this inherent intelligence. She seems like she’s from this lofted heiress status, and she seems smart and like she could be dangerous or somebody not to mess with. So, it was a great experience from beginning to end working with her.

(L to R) Dominic Sessa as Bosco, Justice Smith as Charlie, and Ariana Greenblatt as June in ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’. Photo: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

MF: Can you talk about bringing in new cast members like Justice Smith, Dominic Sessa and Ariana Greenblatt and having them mix it up with the returning cast?

RF: That was also a great challenge just because when you have such beloved, established actors, and you got to find, younger, less established actors who you expect to be as compelling and charismatic, so they just don’t get completely blown away by these movie stars. It’s challenging, but for all three of them, I had been fans of their work. With Dominic, ‘The Holdovers’ was his first movie, but he was so compelling in it. I think it was an incredible launch for his career. But I was proud to have cast him in his first ever studio movie, and I think he more than performed at a level we needed in terms of just being funny and he turned out to be good with both the magic and the action. He’s just got this cool kind of swag. Justice is somebody who we’ve all seen whether it’s ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ or the ‘Jurassic World’ movies, but also super cool indies as well. He’s always interesting and so I’ve been a fan, and it was exciting to get to cast him. Then Ariana was just a force of nature. She was 16 when she first came to Budapest and celebrated her 17th birthday while we were there. So, she was literally a child relative to these adults, and she’s just so wise beyond her years, so capable physically, obviously a great actress and just really brought so much cool to June that she just inherently has as a person. Casting’s one of my favorite parts of the process and I think if you look at the original ‘Zombieland’ or other movies I made, casting seems to be a signature of the films just discovering people who have gone on to great things. Not to say I discovered these people, but just giving them maybe perhaps a bigger platform. I think they all have exceeded beyond my wildest hopes and dreams, and I think they’re just so compelling as a triad.

(L to R) Dominic Sessa as Bosco, Jesse Eisenberg as Daniel Atlas, Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves, and Justice Smith as Charlie in ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes.

MF: Can you talk about designing the illusions for the film and how you wanted them to look on screen?

RF: The first two movies are terrific, and I love them, but there were moments as a fan where I felt like they relied perhaps a little too heavily on VFX or CGI. So, it was very important to me for our movie that we do everything as practical as possible and do everything as much in cameras as possible. One of the things I’m most proud of is that all those illusion rooms that take place in the château are all physical sets that we built. So, whether it was the upside-down room where we literally spun a room upside down, which is a Hollywood convention going back to Fred Astaire dancing on the ceiling. Or it’s the Ames room, which we probably all seen versions of in various museums of Illusion throughout the world, where one person’s very big and one person’s very small on the other side of frame. We built that, and that was all in camera and practical, and that was just so cool to experience when you walk to that room. It really did look like a normal room and then as soon as you walk in, the proportions shift. So, that was just neat and to be able to create something like that with that level of detail. The infinity staircase, which is what we call the room that Woody was in with all the mirrors going in a million different directions. I talked to the production designer about trying to figure out how we could do a practical version of M.C. Escher’s painting, where the stairs are going in all different directions and you’re not quite sure what’s up and down or anything else. So, through a trial and error, we arrived at the design for that room, which kind of does provide that feeling of you don’t know which way is up or down and you don’t know which reflections are real and which is Woody. Then there was a hall of mirrors, which we’ve seen in movies before, but that was all in camera. Truthfully, the only VFX effects in any of these environments was just when there were mirrors. We had to paint out the camera because he inherently shot his own reflection, but we put him in a skintight form fitting blue screen suit. So, it was easy to find him in all the reflections, and then we could just erase him. But I’m proud of how we committed to this concept of it having to be as practical as we could make it, and then holding true to it, and not ultimately bailing or relying on VFX, which is always a possibility.

(L to R) Woody Harrelson as Merrit McKinney, Jesse Eisenberg as Daniel Atlas, Dominic Sessa as Bosco, Dave Franco as Jack Wilder, Justice Smith as Charlie, Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves, and Ariana Greenblatt as June in ‘Now You See Me, Now You Don’t’. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes.

MF: Finally, the ending of the film hints at more adventures for the main characters, is returning for a ‘’Now You See Me 4’ something you would be interested in doing?

RF: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, that’s why we left it off on that ellipsis of more potential adventures to go on. I’m thrilled with the reaction that the audience has had to the film, and I’d be absolutely thrilled to go back into this world with these actors and devise a new magical adventure for them to go on. So, fingers crossed.

(L to R) Justice Smith as Charlie, Ariana Greenblatt as June, Dominic Sessa as Bosco, Jesse Eisenberg as Daniel Atlas, Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves, and Dave Franco as Jack Wilder in ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes.

What is the plot of ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’?

The original Four Horsemen (Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher and Dave Franco) reunite with a new generation of illusionists to take on powerful diamond heiress Veronika Vanderberg (Rosamund Pike), who leads a criminal empire built on money laundering and trafficking. The new and old magicians must overcome their differences to work together on their most ambitious heist yet.

Who is in the cast of ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’?
- Jesse Eisenberg as J. Daniel Atlas
- Woody Harrelson as Merritt McKinney
- Dave Franco as Jack Wilder
- Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves
- Justice Smith as Charlie Vanderberg
- Dominic Sessa as Bosco LeRoy
- Ariana Greenblatt as June Rouclere
- Lizzy Caplan as Lula May
- Rosamund Pike as Veronika Vanderberg
- Morgan Freeman as Thaddeus Bradley
- Mark Ruffalo as Dylan Shrike
‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’ opens in theaters on November 14th.

List of Movies in the ‘Now You See Me’ Franchise:
- ‘Now You See Me‘ (2013)
- ‘Now You See Me 2‘ (2016)
- ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t‘ (2025)
Buy Tickets: ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t‘ Movie Showtimes

Buy ‘Now You See Me’ Movies On Amazon
December 25, 2025
Rosamund Pike Joins the Cast of ‘Now You See Me 3’
Rosamund Pike as Lady Elsbeth Catton in ‘Saltburn.’ Photo: Amazon MGM Studios. Amazon MGM Studios.

Preview:
- Rosamund Pike is joining the third ‘Now You See Me’ movie.
- She’ll appear alongside franchise veterans Jessie Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco and Isla Fisher
- ‘Zombieland’s Ruben Fleischer is in the director’s chair.
We learned last month that Ariana Greenblatt, Justice Smith and Dominic Sessa are all aboard for the third outing of illusion-based thriller movie series ‘Now You See Me’.

Another new recruit –– albeit someone who has enjoyed a longer career than anyone –– is also joining the cast. Rosamund Pike, most recently seen in ‘Saltburn’, has landed a mysterious role in the new movie, according to Lionsgate.
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What’s the story of the ‘Now You See Me’ movies?

(L to R) Isla Fisher, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson and Dave Franco in 2013’s ‘Now You See Me.’ Photo: Lionsgate.

The original ‘Now You See Me’ in 2013 introduced us to magician team The Four Horsemen –– played by Jessie Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco and Isla Fisher, who specialize in dazzling big acts of trickery either in theaters or on the street, with an added extra –– they tend to steal from the rich to help the poor.

In that film, they’re being hunted by the authorities, including Mark Ruffalo’s FBI agent Dylan Rhodes, but he –– spoiler if you’ve never seen the movie –– turns out to be a magician himself, and introduces them to a secret society.

Three of the four (with Lizzy Caplan as a new recruit) returned for 2016’s ‘Now You See Me 2’ which sees the team recruited –– with threats –– by Daniel Radcliffe’s tech guru to pull off a heist.

As for the third movie? That is being kept in a special locked chest for now, with a script that has been through the hands of Eric Warren Singer, Seth Graham Smith and Mike Lesslie.

This is Lionsgate’s brief logline:

“The new film returns audiences to the thieving illusionists known as the Four Horseman while introducing audiences to a new generation of magicians.”

Ruben Fleischer –– who, of course directed Eisenberg and Harrelson in the ‘Zombieland’ movies –– will be calling the shots for this one.

Who else will be in ‘Now You See Me 3’?

(L to R) Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Woody Harrelson, and Dave Franco in 2013’s ‘Now You See Me.’

Eisenberg, Harrelson, Fisher, Franco and fellow franchise stalwart Morgan Freeman (who played a magician hired to debunk the Horsemen will be back in their There has also been chatter about Mark Ruffalo, though his name doesn’t appear in the studio’s press release. Perhaps it’s all part of a complex bluff of a sort that the Horsemen would enjoy making work.

Related Article: ‘Now You See Me 3’ Adds Ariana Greenblatt, Justice Smith and Dominic Sessa

When will ‘Now You See Me 3’ be in theaters?

Lionsgate has yet to announce a release date for the new movie.

(L to R) Jesse Eisenberg, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher and Woody Harrelson in 2013’s ‘Now You See Me.’ Photo: Lionsgate.

Other Movies in the ‘Now You See Me’ Franchise:
- ‘Now You See Me‘ (2013)
- ‘Now You See Me 2‘ (2016)
Buy ‘Now You See Me’ Movies On Amazon
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May 10, 2024
Movie Review: ‘I Saw the TV Glow’
(Left) Justice Smith in ‘I Saw the TV Glow’. Photo: A24.

Opening in theaters on May 3rd is ‘I Saw the TV Glow,’ directed by Jane Schoenbrun and starring Justice Smith, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Helena Howard, Fred Durst, Danielle Deadwyler, Lindsey Jordan, and Amber Benson.

Related Article: Justice Smith and An-Li Bogan Talk ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’

Initial Thoughts

‘I Saw the TV Glow’. Photo: A24.

Horror, reality-bending fantasy, and a whole lot of ‘90s nostalgia come together in ‘I Saw the TV Glow,’ the second full-length feature film written and directed by Jane Schoenbrun, who made their debut in 2021 with the creepy, pandemic-infused ‘We’re All Going to the World’s Fair.’ This time out, Schoenbrun takes their cues from David Lynch, ‘Donnie Darko,’ and weird ‘90s kids television to tell a story of suburban apathy and gender dysphoria that’s both haunting and poignant, even if it may seem obscure to some viewers.

Story and Direction

Director Jane Schoenbrun on the set of ‘I Saw the TV Glow’. Photo: A24.

In a drab, unnamed suburb that already seems like an alternate universe where everyone is half-dead, Owen (played as a young boy by Ian Foreman and as a teen by Justice Smith) bonds with an older teen named Maddy (Brigette Lundy-Paine) over their shared interest in a kids’ TV show called ‘The Pink Opaque.’ Owen’s fascination derives from seeing commercials for the show, since his parents say it’s on too late for him to watch (“Isn’t that a show for girls?” sneers his father, played by Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst with a distant, icy menace).

Maddy, however, is hooked, toting around an episode guide like her own personal Bible and eventually having Owen sneak over to watch it with her under the pretense of him going to a friend’s house for a sleepover (she later passes him VHS tapes of the ones he misses). The show itself looks like so many of the cheap, cheesy, lo-fi “young adult” programs (and later, more sophisticated ones like ‘Buffy’) that proliferated in the ‘90s on Nickelodeon and other basic cable channels, centering around two girls, Isabel (Helena Howard) and Tara (Lindsey Jordan), who meet at summer camp and share a psychic link that allows them to battle all kinds of monsters – and an overarching big bad called Mr. Melancholy – without even meeting up again.

It’s soon clear that Isabel and Tara are embodiments of a different existence for Owen and Maddy, and that the TV characters’ embrace of their powers and true selves is something that the real-life friends both yearn for. But only Maddy takes action, abruptly disappearing from town just as ‘The Pink Opaque’ is canceled. When she eventually resurfaces to a shocked older Owen, she tells him that the world of ‘The Pink Opaque’ is actually real – and that the reality they inhabit may be the fictional one.

‘I Saw the TV Glow’. Photo: A24.

Has Maddy gone mad? What is the truth? Owen doesn’t know for sure, but he does sense that something is wrong, and that there is a version of him that does not want to slide down the same suburban path to dissolution that he sees all around him. As Owen’s world begins to shift and change, Schoenbrun allows the film to mutate with it: sometimes Owen addresses the audience directly, while the lines between his reality and another seem to cross, merge, and blur in a hallucinogenic whirl of imagery that flickers in and out of the ‘Pink Opaque.’

Schoenbrun directs all this as if they are both inside Owen’s world and outside of it, coolly observing his twisting journey with detachment while also allowing us to feel the rawness of his emotions and the terror he feels as he is literally pulled in two directions. The director also captures the bittersweet tang of memory, especially in a later scene where an older, defeated Owen finds a rerun of ‘The Pink Opaque’ on late-night TV and suddenly sees it for the amateurish, chintzy production it really is —even though his childhood memory of it was magical.

Much of the final act of the film plays out in the arid Fun Center – which is anything but – where Owen works. It’s there that part of Schoenbrun’s theme, that suburbia is a draining hellspace of alienation, comes on most heavily, but the director doesn’t seem to have much to say about it that’s new. The other part of the director’s thesis, however, is much more personal and may get lost on viewers who don’t have the same lived experience.

Self-Realization

Justice Smith in ‘I Saw the TV Glow’. Photo: A24.

‘I Saw the TV Glow’ is an allegory about the “egg crack,” the moment in which a trans person suddenly and clearly sees that who they are inside may no longer match up with what the world sees on the outside. Schoenbrun’s own personal journey as a trans person is embedded into the film, while Owen and Maddy are two people who are going through the same thing – represented by the way in which they relate to the characters of Isabel and Tara on ‘The Pink Opaque.’

One of them, Maddy, is becoming more comfortable with who she is already, embracing the idea that she can step into another world and live honestly. A confused and desperate Owen, meanwhile, sees the truth within his grasp but can’t quite pry himself away from the conventional story that he feels he has to live. “Do you like girls?” Maddy quizzes him at one point, after letting him know where she stands. “I don’t know,” says Owen haltingly. When Maddy asks if he prefers boys, Owen replies, “I think I like TV shows…When I think about that stuff, I feel like someone took a shovel and dug out my insides.”

Smith (‘Jurassic World: Dominion’) and Lundy-Paine (‘Bill & Ted Face the Music’) give these conflicted characters real warmth and depth. Lundy-Paine gives Maddy an initial guardedness that turns into steely determination and eventually an otherworldly aura, while Smith is achingly sad and also affectingly sweet as the tormented Owen, effectively communicating through both his physicality and makeup how Owen seems to fold into himself as the years go by, leading to a wrenching finale.

Final Thoughts

‘I Saw the TV Glow’. Photo: A24.

In many ways, ‘I Saw the TV Glow’ is independent filmmaking in the truest sense, a film that is very much a deeply personal vision filtered through an experimental narrative and dream-like visual imagery. If some of its ideas are somewhat shopworn – we’ve been told many times by many movies how soul-deadening suburbia can be – other concepts, like finding one’s true self, are relevant right this minute as trans and LGBTQ+ people are increasingly under fire for expressing just that. Even without that subtext, Jane Schoenbrun’s fever dream is compelling, frequently unnerving viewing that will strike different chords with everyone who sees it.

‘I Saw the TV Glow’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.
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What is the plot of ‘I Saw the TV Glow’?

Loners in their arid ‘90s suburban enclave and outcasts in their tribal school system, Owen (Ian Foreman and Justice Smith) and Maddy (Brigette Lundy-Paine) forge a bond over their love of a weekly “young adult” program called ‘The Pink Opaque.’ But when Maddy disappears, Owen realizes that their connection to the show might be more than mere fandom – and that the very nature of reality may be starting to crumble around them.

Who is in the cast of ‘I Saw the TV Glow’?
- Justice Smith as Owen
- Brigette Lundy-Paine as Maddy
- Helena Howard as Isabel
- Fred Durst as Frank
- Danielle Deadwyler as Brenda
- Lindsey Jordan as Tara
- Amber Benson as Johnny Link’s Mom
- Ian Foreman as younger Owen
‘I Saw the TV Glow’. Photo: A24.

Other Justice Smith Movies:
- ‘Paper Towns‘ (2015)
- ‘Every Day‘ (2018)
- ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom‘ (2018)
- ‘Pokémon Detective Pikachu‘ (2019)
- ‘All the Bright Places‘ (2020)
- ‘The Voyeurs‘ (2021)
- ‘Ron’s Gone Wrong‘ (2021)
- ‘Jurassic World Dominion‘ (2022)
- ‘Sharper‘ (2023)
- ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves‘ (2023)
- ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes‘ (2024)
Buy Justice Smith Movies on Amazon
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May 4, 2024
Ariana Greenblatt and Justice Smith Join ‘Now You See Me 3’
(Left) Ariana Greenblatt in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Barbie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. (Center) Justice Smith talks ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes.’ (Right) Dominic Sessa stars as Angus Tully in director Alexander Payne’s ‘The Holdovers,’a Focus Features release. Credit: Seacia Pavao / © 2023 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

Preview:
- ‘Now You See Me 3’ is moving forward.
- Ariana Greenblatt, Justice Smith and Dominic Sessa are the new additions.
- Ruben Fleischer is directing.
At its CinemaCon presentation this year, Lionsgate dropped word that, after years in development limbo, a third ‘Now You See Me’ movie is finally, actually moving forward, with ‘Zombieland’s Ruben Fleisher in the director’s chair (Louis Leterrier and Jon M. Chu handled the previous entries).

And now we know who will be starring in the movie, as ‘Barbie’s Ariana Greenblatt, ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ Justice Smith and ‘The Holdovers’ breakout Dominic Sessa have all been announced as new recruits.
10063292
What’s the story of the ‘Now You See Me’ movies?

(L to R) Isla Fisher, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson and Dave Franco in 2013’s ‘Now You See Me.’ Photo: Lionsgate.

The original ‘Now You See Me’ in 2013 introduced us to magician team The Four Horsemen –– played by Jessie Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco and Isla Fisher, who specialize in dazzling big acts of trickery either in theaters or on the street, with an added extra –– they tend to steal from the rich to help the poor.

In that film, they’re being hunted by the authorities, including Mark Ruffalo’s FBI agent Dylan Rhodes, but he –– spoiler if you’ve never seen the movie –– turns out to be a magician himself, and introduces them to a secret society.

Three of the four (with Lizzy Caplan as a new recruit) returned for 2016’s ‘Now You See Me 2’ which sees the team recruited –– with threats –– by Daniel Radcliffe’s tech guru to pull off a heist.

As for the third movie? That is being kept in a special locked chest for now, with a script that has been through the hands of Eric Warren Singer, Seth Graham Smith and Mike Lesslie.

This is Lionsgate’s brief logline:

“The new film returns audiences to the thieving illusionists known as the Four Horseman while introducing audiences to a new generation of magicians.”

Who else will be in ‘Now You See Me 3’?

(L to R) Jesse Eisenberg, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher and Woody Harrelson in 2013’s ‘Now You See Me.’ Photo: Lionsgate.

Deadline was first out of the gate with news on this one, reporting that Greenblatt (who will be seen this year in ‘Borderlands’ had joined the movie.

The Hollywood Reporter, meanwhile, brought word of Smith and Sessa.

Both trade sites (and the studio itself) mention that Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher and Dave Franco will be back in their roles, while Deadline adds Mark Ruffalo, though his name doesn’t appear elsewhere. Perhaps it’s all part of a complex bluff of a sort that the Horsemen would enjoy making work.

Related Article: ‘The Crow’, ‘Borderlands’ Showcased at Lionsgate’s CinemaCon Presentation

When will ‘Now You See Me 3’ be in theaters?

Lionsgate has yet to announce a release date for the new movie.

(L to R) Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Woody Harrelson, and Dave Franco in 2013’s ‘Now You See Me.’

Other Movies in the ‘Now You See Me’ Franchise:
- ‘Now You See Me‘ (2013)
- ‘Now You See Me 2‘ (2016)
Buy ‘Now You See Me’ Movies On Amazon
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April 24, 2024
‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’ Cast Interview
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Opening in theaters on March 15th is the new comedy ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes,’ which was written and directed by Kobi Libii (‘We Broke Up’) and stars Justice Smith (‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’), David Alan Grier (‘Boomerang’), An-Li Bogan (‘After Yang’), Rupert Friend (‘Asteroid City‘), and Nicole Byer (‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken’).

Related Article: ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’ Exclusive Featurette

(L to R) Justice Smith and An-Li Bogan talk ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes.’

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Justice Smith and An-Li Bogan about their work on ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes,’ Smith’s first reaction to the screenplay, collaborating with director Kobi Libii, Bogan’s character and her relationship with Smith’s Aren, and working with legendary comedic actor David Alan Grier.

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Smith and Bogan, Nicole Byer, and director Kobi Libii.

(L to R) Director of photography Doug Emmett, actor Justice Smith and writer/director Kobi Libii on the set of ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Tobin Yelland / Focus Features.

Moviefone: To begin with, Justice, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and what were some of the aspects of this character that you were excited to explore on screen?

Justice Smith: I got sent the script. I was going to workshop it with Kobi at the Sundance Labs. He invited me out there, and when I first read it, I was like, “Oh, this is my experience. I could lend so much to this character because I understand this arc.” I think I knew how to play the specific complicated feelings, the specific rabbit hole that Aren was in, of feeling discomfort, trying to mitigate that discomfort by appeasing, but then indirectly allowing them to treat him in a way that, again, which makes him uncomfortable. So, I understood that vicious cycle and I understood how complicated that makes you feel. So, I knew I could do it. I knew I could lend myself to it.

Writer/director Kobi Libii (right) on the set of ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Anne Marie Fox / Focus Features.

MF: To follow up, director Kobi Libii has said that he based the character of Aren on his own life experiences. Did you feel at times like you were playing a version of Kobi?

JS: Yes, but only because I was playing myself. I’m so grateful because it’s the first time I worked with a director who looked like me and understood my specific racial experience and it was cathartic. I had never worked with someone who I didn’t have to explain myself to and it was freeing, and it allowed me to just explore what he wrote and bring my truth to it, which was fortunately, very similar to his truth. So, if anything, I was just playing myself.

(L to R) An-Li Bogan as “Lizzie” and Justice Smith as “Aren” in director Kobi Libii’s ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Tobin Yelland / Focus Features.

MF: An-Li, can you talk about your approach to playing Lizzie, and the relationship she forms with Aren?

An-Li Bogan: Kind of similarly to Justice, a lot of Lizzie felt like she was already in me, so that was great. That was easy just for day one. Then actually getting to work with Kobi in rehearsals and on set, he just included who I was into the character and the development of the character. I feel like he kind of did that too for our relationship. We were allowed to bring ourselves. We weren’t trying to hit certain points necessarily and how they connected, it came very naturally. I feel like we were given a lot of freedom to be comfortable and to be ourselves and that was important for playing these characters.

(L to R) Justice Smith as “Aren”, David Alan Grier as “Roger” and Aisha Hinds as “Gabbard” in writer/director Kobi Libii’s ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Tobin Yelland/Focus Features.

MF: Finally, Justice can you talk about working with the great David Alan Grier and the friendship that forms between Aren and Roger?

JS: David is incredibly funny off-screen as he is on. He would tease me constantly, bully me constantly on set, and make fun of me. But he’s just surprisingly caring. He would send me gospel music, which was cool. It was amazing to work with him because I couldn’t really hold myself together when he would do his scenes because he’s very funny. But also, I feel like he taught me a lot in a similar way that Roger teaches Aren, where Roger mentors him. I felt that same mentorship from David.
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What is the Plot of ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’?

Aren (Justice Smith) is recruited into a magical society of African Americans to follow their lifelong cause: to make the lives of white people easier.

Who is in the Cast of ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’?
- Justice Smith as Aren
- David Alan Grier as Roger
- An-Li Bogan as Lizzie
- Drew Tarver as Jason
- Michaela Watkins as Masterson
- Aisha Hinds as Gabbard
- Tim Baltz as Officer Miller
- Rupert Friend as Mick
- Nicole Byer as Dede
‘The American Society of Magical Negroes,’ a Focus Features release.

Other Movies Similar to ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’:
- ‘The Color Purple‘ (1985)
- ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone‘ (2001)
- ‘The Help‘ (2011)
- ‘Sparkle‘ (2012)
- ‘12 Years a Slave‘ (2013)
- ‘The Internship‘ (2013)
- ‘The Butler‘ (2013)
- ‘Selma‘ (2014)
- ‘The Intern‘ (2015)
- ‘Moonlight‘ (2016)
- ‘Harriet‘ (2019)
- ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom‘ (2020)
- ‘One Night in Miami…‘ (2020)
- ‘Judas and the Black Messiah‘ (2021)
- ‘Till‘ (2022)
- ‘Rustin‘ (2023)
- ‘American Fiction‘ (2023)
- ‘The Color Purple‘ (2023)
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March 13, 2024
Where To Watch ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’
(L to R) Justice Smith plays Simon, Chris Pine plays Edgin, Rege-Jean Page plays Xenk, Sophia Lillis plays Doric and Michelle Rodriguez plays Holga in ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ from Paramount Pictures and eOne.

Roll for initiative! The fantasy adventure movie based on the popular tabletop role-playing game ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ may be arriving on Paramount+ this month.

What happens when a Bard, a Barbarian, a Wizard, and a Druid meet at a tavern? Chaos, naturally. In ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’, directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein (both worked on ‘Game Night’) found the perfect balance of bringing elements of the original tabletop game and an epic fantasy adventure to the big screen. The film incorporated enough easter eggs from the game lore for the fans while making it appealing and interesting to those who have not played the game.
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The official synopsis for ‘Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ is below:

“A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people. ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ brings the rich world and playful spirit of the legendary roleplaying game to the big screen in a hilarious and action-packed adventure.”

‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ opened in theaters on March 31st to $37.2 million domestically and has grossed over $203.2 million worldwide since its release. Critics and audiences reacted positively to the movie, warranting the film 91% and 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes respectively.

Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’

The adventuring party of ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ stars Chris Pine (‘Don’t Worry Darling’) as the bard Edgin Darvis, Michelle Rodriguez (‘Fast X‘) as the barbarian Holga Kilgore, Justice Smith (‘Sharper’) as young wizard Simon Aumar, Sophia Lillis (‘The Adults’) as the druid Doric, Regé-Jean Page (‘The Gray Man’) as the lawful good paladin Xenk Yendar, Hugh Grant (‘Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre’) as Forge Fitzwilliam, and Daisy Head (‘Wrong Turn’) as the film’s antagonist Sofina.

(L to R) Michelle Rodriguez plays Holga, Justice Smith plays Simon, Chris Pine plays Edgin and Sophia Lillis plays Doric in ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ from Paramount Pictures and eOne.

From Tabletop To The Big Screen

Tabletop Roleplaying games (or TRPG) have become increasingly popular, especially with the exposure from shows like ‘Stranger Things’, live-play web series from groups such as Dimension 20 and Critical Role, as well as the animated Prime Video series ‘The Legend of Vox Machina’ (also created by Critical Role).

There’s a fine line between adapting the game to screen – how do you fit in all the lore while embracing the hilarity and havoc from a session and still tell an epic high fantasy adventure story? D&D fans may recall the ill-fated 2000 ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ movie. So bad it received a 9% score from critics and 20% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. However, thanks to the well-crafted script for ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’, it manages to capture both the heart and comedy of the story and the amazing chemistry of the cast gives this movie a +2 to Charisma.

(L to R) Justice Smith plays Simon, Chris Pine plays Edgin, Sophia Lillis plays Doric and Michelle Rodriguez plays Holga in ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ from Paramount Pictures and eOne.

Ahead of filming, the cast did play a one-shot session of D&D together prior to filming, which is the best method of researching when it comes to prepping for their roles in the film. After all, what better way to study your character and bond with your cast mates than spending an hour planning out what you’ll do in the dungeon crawl just to have the entire plan go up in flames because of one failed dice role?

One of the great things about this ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ is that it is just as much for the well-versed D&D players as it is for the general audience who may not have ever rolled a d20. Yes, those who have played the game might get an all-knowing chuckle at seeing Simon cast a spell to speak with the dead at the cemetery. Still, the scene was executed so well that the general audience would never feel lost from the references and easter eggs.

Aside from the cast of main characters and dungeon crawls, the film is filled with creatures and easter eggs from Dungeons & Dragons lore such as the original characters from ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ Saturday morning cartoon, a gelatinous cube, a mimic, displacer beast, the beholder, and more.

‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ from Paramount Pictures and eOne.

Where Can I Watch ‘Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’?

The film premiered at SXSW on March 10, 2023, and was released theatrically in the United States on March 31, 2023. While the movie is available to rent on digital, it is better experienced in the theater so be sure to check below for showtimes in your area. ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ has a total runtime of 2 hours and 14 minutes.

Buy Tickets: ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ Movie Showtimes

Watch the official trailers for ‘Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ below:
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Can’t make it out to the theater? You have the option to rent or purchase the movie on VOD. Services such as Amazon Prime Video, Direct TV, Google Play, Vudu, YouTube, AppleTV, AMC On Demand, and Redbox allows you to rent the movie for $19.99 or purchase it for $24.99.

Where To Watch: ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ Online

As for as streaming goes, an official date hasn’t been confirmed. The movie is released by Paramount so it is likely to end up on Paramount+ once it is ready to go to streaming. Seeing as the movie premiere on March 31, it is closing in on its 45-day theatrical release window. If it follows the same timeline, we could see the fantasy-adventure streaming on Paramount+ as soon as mid-May.

Buy ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ On Amazon

(L to R) Sophia Lillis plays Doric, Justice Smith plays Simon, Chris Pine plays Edgin and Michelle Rodriguez plays Holga in ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ from Paramount Pictures and eOne.

More High Fantasy Adventures Like ‘Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’:
- ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail‘ (1975)
- ‘Conan The Barbarian‘ (1982)
- ‘Labyrinth‘ (1986)
- ‘The Princess Bride‘ (1987)
- ‘Dragonheart‘ (1996)
- ‘Dungeons & Dragons‘ (2000)
- ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring‘ (2001)
- ‘Stardust‘ (2007)
- ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey‘ (2012)
- ‘Warcraft‘ (2016)
May 23, 2023
Movie Review: ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’
(L to R) Justice Smith plays Simon, Chris Pine plays Edgin, Sophia Lillis plays Doric and Michelle Rodriguez plays Holga in ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ from Paramount Pictures and eOne.

Releasing in theaters on March 31st, ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ blends the knowing humor that writer/directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein brought to ‘Game Night’ with an adventure worthy of the name.

They’re helped by a charming cast that have solid chemistry, a witty script that channels everything from ‘Lord of the Rings’ to ‘Monty Python’ and an enchanting visual style that is bursting with impressive effects work.

If you’re a longtime player of the game, chances are you’ll have a good time spotting the various references and easter eggs sprinkled within the film, but if you don’t know your Paladin from your Cleric, you don’t need to swot up to understand the story.
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What happens in ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’?

‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ takes as its basis the tabletop gaming system invented in 1974 by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and currently overseen by the company known as Wizards of the Coast. It’s the sort of elemental fantasy world that has been copycatted many, many times. And yet, it still feels original here.

We’re introduced to Edgin Darvis (Chris Pine), a charming bard-turned-thief and his best friend, barbarian Holga Kilgore (Michelle Rodriguez), who are cooling their heels in prison after being caught on a job trying to steal magical artefacts.

Betrayed by Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant) and dark magic acolyte Sofina (Daisy Head), the pair must make good their escape and recruit a band of unlikely adventurers (including Justice Smith’s lackluster wizard Simon Aumar and Sophia Lillis’ shape-changing druid Doric to undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people.

The stakes are high: the artifact that Edgin and his original associates retrieved has been used by Sofina and her group of evil red wizards to unleash an army of the undead and general chaos upon the fantasy world. Our heroes must make things right, assuming they can stop squabbling along the way…

(L to R) Hugh Grant plays Forge in ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ from Paramount Pictures and eOne.

Related Article: The New ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ Movie is called ‘Honor Among Thieves’

‘Dungeons & Dragons’ is powered by fun performances

Making full use of the entertaining script written by writer/directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, the cast make this latest stab at ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ work far beyond the ill-fated 2000 movie.

Pine, who has proven he can handle a blend of comedy, heart and action with movies such as the ‘Star Trek’ franchise, here makes for a typically appealing leading man while sending himself up at times. His Edgin is such a charming rogue, just this side of annoying but never smug.

Key to his character’s appeal is the fact that he’s not your basic action protagonist –– he’s heroic and can handle himself, but he’d much rather let Holga deal with any fighting. Rodriguez, usually found within the ‘Fast & Furious’ ensemble, gets more of a chance to have fun here, similarly undercutting the expectations of her character and proving to have a great buddy comedy connection with Pine. One of the smartest moves was to eschew a basic romantic storyline for these two, making the story feel like it isn’t the 500th variation of a well-used tale.

Her character is also the focus of a very enjoyable cameo from a big movie star that has yet to be widely reported, so we won’t spoil it here.

Grant mostly channels his smooth-talking Phoenix Buchanan from ‘Paddington 2’ to play Forge, but while he’s a low-level antagonist who only has a few key scenes, he steals most of them.

Smith and Lillis make for a great duo: he the nervy wizard struggling with self-esteem and his magical abilities, she the cagey druid who can become almost anything she wishes to be but would rather not hang out with humans. And while Pine and Rodriguez enjoy the lion’s share of the material, Grant, Smith and Lillis all have enough moments to keep their characters memorable.

Plus, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Regé-Jean Page’s Xenk Yendar, who the crew seeks out for help. A ramrod straight hero in the classic mold, he’s a blend of Drax from ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and Christopher Reeve‘s Superman. He doesn’t appear in a lot of the movie, but he certainly makes an impact.

The movie as a whole has been carefully calibrated to have as wide an appeal as possible, putting a truly entertaining spin on heroes, villains and even exposition –– the image of heroes getting information out of a series of resurrected corpses is one that will stick (and still make you laugh) for days afterwards.

(L to R) Michelle Rodriguez plays Holga, Justice Smith plays Simon and Chris Pine plays Edgin in ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ from Paramount Pictures and eOne.

‘Dungeons & Dragons’ might not be for everyone

There are still elements of the movie that could turn people off: if you’re not a fan of the “Marvelization” of blockbusters putting jokes into adventure or action, this movie might not be the best entry point.

The jokes tend to be more on the chuckle level than giant belly laughs (though there are certainly a few of those here, including a moment featuring both the “dungeon” and “dragon” part of the title). And, yes, it is another movie where a group of quippy heroes have to go on a quest to find a magic thing to fix a situation wrought by a magical baddie. But it does some interesting things with that very basic concept.

At more than two hours, there are small moments that drag and odd sections that don’t support the running time expended on it, but those are few and far between. And if you came to the movie expecting to see plenty of Page’s character, he’s in a couple of scenes and then vanishes for most of the movie until the end. That’s not necessarily a problem, but he works so well with the rest of the ensemble and is so straightforwardly heroic that you might actually miss him when he leaves (in a straight line, jumping over a rock… it’s a thing).

Fantasy is a tricky genre to infuse with humor, but ‘Honor Among Thieves’ pulls it off with aplomb. In a world where even the shoddy 2000 movie can generate sequels, this one deserves to roll a saving throw and spawn a franchise, as, handled correctly, these are characters you’ll want to spend more time with.

‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ receives 9 out of 10 stars.

(L to R) Justice Smith plays Simon, Chris Pine plays Edgin, Rege-Jean Page plays Xenk, Sophia Lillis plays Doric and Michelle Rodriguez plays Holga in ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ from Paramount Pictures and eOne.

Other Movies Similar to ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves:’
- ‘Dragonslayer‘ (1981)
- ‘The NeverEnding Story‘ (1984)
- ‘DragonHeart‘ (1996)
- ‘Dungeons & Dragons‘ (2000)
- ‘Reign of Fire‘ (2002)
- ‘Eragon‘ (2006)
- ‘In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale‘ (2008)
- ‘How to Train Your Dragon‘ (2010)
- ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug‘ (2013)
Buy Tickets: ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves‘ Movie Showtimes

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‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ is produced by Entertainment One and Paramount, and scheduled for release on March 31st.
March 31, 2023
Jonathan Krisel Directing ‘Pokemon: Detective Pikachu’ Sequel
Pikachu in 2019’s ‘Detective Pikachu.’

2019 saw one of the bigger hits of the current period where video games adaptations actually seemed to work: ‘Pokemon: Detective Pikachu’, which blended a compelling mix of good gags and solid effects, not to mention a good cast led by the snark-tastic voice work of Ryan Reynolds as the title character. Produced by Legendary, it was released by Warner Bros. under the companies’ deal.

A sequel to that movie has seemingly been in development since it made more than $430 million at the worldwide box office and it has now locked down a director.

Jonathan Krisel, who co-created, co-wrote and directed the majority of TV series ‘Portlandia’, is now aboard, with ‘The Kings of Summer’s Chris Galletta writing the script.

The big question mark hanging over this one is whether Reynolds will return, though you’ve got to think that all involved will want him back.

Ryan Reynolds stars in 2019’s ‘Detective Pikachu.’ Photo: Ryan Reynolds/YouTube.

Related Article: Reynolds and Jackman Answer ‘Deadpool 3’ Wolverine Questions

What was the story of ‘Pokemon: Detective Pikachu’?

The 2019 movie starred Justice Smith as Tim Goodman, son of ace detective Harry. When Harry goes mysteriously missing, Tim turns to Harry’s former Pokémon partner, Detective Pikachu for help. The fuzzy little creature is a hilariously wise-cracking, adorable super-sleuth who is a puzzlement even to himself.

Finding that they are uniquely equipped to communicate with one another, Tim and Pikachu join forces on a thrilling adventure to unravel the tangled mystery. Chasing clues together through the neon-lit streets of Ryme City –– a sprawling, modern metropolis where humans and Pokémon live side by side in a hyper-realistic live-action world –– they encounter a diverse cast of Pokémon characters and uncover a shocking plot that could destroy this peaceful co-existence and threaten the whole Pokémon universe.
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Who is the new director, Jonathan Krisel?

In addition to Portlandia, Krisel’s credits include co-creating TV series such as ‘Baskets’ and ‘Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!’. He’s also written for ‘Saturday Night Live’ and created work for ‘Funny or Die Presents…’

On the movie front, he’s been an editor and writer on a few projects, including ‘Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie’ and is reportedly making his directorial debut with ‘Sesame Street’, which is listed on the IMDb as in post-production, though appears to be in limbo.

That movie chronicles what happens when Big Bird and his Sesame Street friends are mysteriously expelled from their neighborhood, finding themselves in Manhattan. They team up with a plucky history show host Sally Hawthorne (Anne Hathaway) who’s on a quest to save her show and prove that Sesame Street actually exists, with obstacles created by the “evil” Mayor, with reasons of his own for keeping Sesame Street hidden from the world.

There’s no clarification yet as to when this might shoot –– assuming it hasn’t already.

Pikachu in 2019’s ‘Detective Pikachu.’

Other Movies Similar to ‘Pokemon: Detective Pikachu:’
- ‘Deadpool‘ (2016)
- ‘Deadpool 2′ (2018)
- ‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters‘ (2019)
- ‘Alita: Battle Angel‘ (2019)
- ‘Sonic the Hedgehog‘ (2020)
- ‘Free Guy‘ (2021)
- ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2‘ (2022)
Buy ‘Pokemon: Detective Pikachu’ On Amazon
March 3, 2023
Comic-Con 2022: ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ Panel

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If there was one major take-away from the ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ panel at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, it was that Hugh Grant should be on as many panels as he wants to be. Whether he’s in the show, movie, comic or game being pimped or not.

If there was another major take-away from the panel, it was that ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ looks like a whole lot of fun.

While ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ as a concept doesn’t have the greatest cinematic history (the 2000 version, which starred Jeremy Irons, Justin Whalin and Marlon Wayans is infamously divisive among movie fans, and scored terrible reviews), ‘Honor Among Thieves’ – or at least the footage shown at Comic-Con – is certainly on a better footing so far.

The con crowd were excited to see the likes of Grant, Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page and Sophia Lillis alongside co-writer/directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, plus producer Jeremy Latcham enthuse about their experiences working on the movie.

(L to R) Regé-Jean Page, Sophia Lillis, Michelle Rodriguez, Chris Pine and Hugh Grant from Paramount’s ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ at San Diego Comic-Con 2022.

Daley and Goldstein, who previously made the likes of ‘Game Night’, both had history as D&D players, and the cast also made mention of the board games’ impact of their lives – even if it was limited to knowing it exists.

In a funny, relaxed panel dominated by Grant’s humorous reactions to every question – he ran the gamut from S&M jokes to dropping a ‘Notting Hill’ referencing while quipping that this was his first time at the Con “but we tried to come for ‘Sense & Sensibility’ – the cast and creators offered some insight into making the movie but also showed off their easy chemistry.

‘Honor Among Thieves’ promises the story of a charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers, who undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people.

Pine plays a Danny Ocean-in-fantasy world style character, who makes plans but also plays the lute. Rodriguez is a powerful barbarian who provides the muscle, while Page is a heroic paladin. Smith is a sorcerer, Lillis a druid and Grant appears as Forge Fletcher, a rogue and the movie’s main antagonist.

Paramount’s ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2022.

There are magical items to find (naturally) and one in particular that has unleashed a terrible evil. But basic fantasy plot aside, the movie has a very Taika Waititi feel to it, blending comedy with action and subverting our expectations.

As the panel ended, the first full trailer for the movie played (find it above) and showed off just some of what the movie will have to offer. Dragons? Check. Dungeons? Yep. Magical mayhem? Sure. Creatures galore? You betcha.

Effects teams are still hard at work on this one (Daley shouted out ILM and Legacy Effects “who brought you Baby Yoda” as the main providers) and we can expect to see ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ in theaters on March 3 next year.

(L to R) Justice Smith plays Simon, Sophia Lillis plays Doric, Chris Pine plays Edgin and Michelle Rodriguez plays Holga in ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ from Paramount Pictures.

(L to R) Chris Pine plays Edgin and Regé-Jean Page plays Xenk in ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ from Paramount Pictures.

Paramount Pictures’ ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ opens in theaters on March 3rd 2023.
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July 21, 2022
Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard Talk ‘Jurassic World Dominion’

(L to R) Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill), Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard), Owen Grady (Chris Pratt), Maisie Lockwood (Isabella Sermon) and Kayla Watts (DeWanda Wise) in ‘Jurassic World Dominion,’ co-written and directed by Colin Trevorrow.

Opening in theaters on June 10th is the latest chapter of the ‘Jurassic Park’ franchise entitled ‘Jurassic World Dominion.’

The new film features Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Isabella Sermon, Justice Smith, and Omar Sy reprising their roles from the previous ‘Jurassic World’ movies, and Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and BD Wong reprising their roles from the original trilogy. While Campbell Scott joins the franchise as Dr. Lewis Dodgson, a character first seen in ‘Jurassic Park.’

Directed by Colin Trevorrow, ‘Dominion’ takes place four years after the events of ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ and the destruction of Isla Nublar. Dinosaurs now live and hunt alongside humans all over the world. This fragile balance will reshape the future and determine, once and for all, whether human beings are to remain the apex predators on a planet they now share with history’s most fearsome creatures.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard about their work on ‘Jurassic World Dominion.’
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You can read our full interview with Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Pratt, Howard, Laura Dern, Isabella Sermon, DeWanda Wise, Mamoudou Athie, and director Colin Trevorrow.

Moviefone: To begin with, how do you feel about ‘Jurassic World Dominion’ releasing in movie theaters on the big screen?

Chris Pratt: It’s fantastic. I think the world is ready to get back to the movies and this is the perfect film to kick that off. It was made for the big screen. It is the epic grand finale of this beloved franchise. People love ‘Jurassic Park,’ people love ‘Jurassic World’ and the two franchises converge in a finale that’s really unlike anything that’s ever been filmed before. So, it’s perfect for the big screen.

Bryce Dallas Howard: It’s a spectacle. It’s absolutely a spectacle and it’s a ride. I think when you go to the theater, it eventizes whatever you’re seeing. The fact that what you’re seeing here is ‘Jurassic World Dominion,’ like what Chris was saying, it’s the sixth movie in three decades. So, I think that if you’re going to go to the theaters this summer with your family, this is definitely the movie to see in a theater.

CP: Especially since it’s like the farewell film, you know? You always want to catch the big act on their farewell tour, and I think that’s what this is. So, you definitely don’t want to miss it.

MF: Finally, the movie also features the return of original cast members Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum. What are your memories of watching the first ‘Jurassic Park’ back in 1993?

CP: The whole world was waking up to this idea that, first of all, this Jurassic pandemonium, everybody loved it and loved the dinosaurs, but it was successful for many reasons. It was this merging of science, imagination and cinematic techniques that essentially allow us to see what we could have only up until that point imagined.

There were bad Claymation versions of this that had been done. Bad stop motion animation versions of this that had been done. This is the first time that people looked and actually feasted their eyes on a living, breathing dinosaur. It was a promise to audiences like, “Hey, everything you could have possibly imagined, you will now be able to see.”

It was a great story. Michael Crichton’s amazing book adapted by Steven Spielberg had an incredibly poignant themes about life, technology, corporate greed, hubris and nature. So, it was just the perfect storm of wonderful things. I remember it very clearly and the fact that we’re sitting here next to each other, talking about the finale and we’re a part of that, it’s surreal. We’re both very blessed.

(L to R) Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt. Universal Pictures ‘Jurassic World Dominion,’ opens in theaters on June 10th.
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June 8, 2022