Dave Franco has learned not to count a movie out too early — but back in 2013, he and his Now You See Me castmates were convinced they had a flop on their hands. The 41-year-old actor opened up about the shaky early days of the now-beloved heist franchise during an Aug. 24 episode of Hot Ones. Here's everything you need to know about Franco's candid confession, and how the "career-ending" movie became a three-film hit.
Key Facts
- Franco revealed the confession during an Aug. 24, 2026, episode of Hot Ones with host Sean Evans.
- He said he and his costars feared the first Now You See Me would tank their careers after a chaotic first day of filming.
- The 2013 film instead became a hit, spawning two sequels and a combined three-film franchise.
- Franco stars as pickpocket-turned-magician Jack Wilder alongside Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg and Isla Fisher.
What Dave Franco Revealed on Hot Ones
Franco sat down across from Sean Evans and the show's famously fiery wings for a wide-ranging conversation, and the topic eventually turned to his long-running franchise. "I can actually talk about this because we've done three of them," Franco teased before diving into the story, referring to the Now You See Me series as a whole. It's the kind of admission that only works in hindsight — and Franco knew it.
He recalled the pure disorder of the shoot's earliest hours, describing a production that felt anything but destined for success. By the end of the very first day, the cast was rattled enough to make a grim pact over dinner. "We literally cheersed to the end of our careers," Franco recalled to Evans, reflecting on just how bleak things looked at the time.
Why the Cast Feared a Career Disaster
It's easy to forget now, but the original Now You See Me was a genuine gamble. The film followed a crew of illusionists who use elaborate stage magic to pull off audacious bank heists, a premise that could have easily tipped into gimmicky territory. Franco, Harrelson, Eisenberg and Fisher — the film's central "Four Horsemen" — had little to go on beyond a chaotic set and an ambitious script.
That uncertainty is part of why the moment stuck with Franco all these years later. Instead of confidently predicting a hit, the cast braced for the opposite outcome, per the Hot Ones interview. It's a candid, self-deprecating admission that fits the actor's reputation for staying grounded about his own career — something he's touched on before.
How Now You See Me Became a Hit Franchise
The gamble paid off. The 2013 original was a box office success, leading to a 2016 sequel and, nearly a decade later, a third installment: Now You See Me: Now You Don't, which hit theaters in November 2025. The threequel brought back the original Four Horsemen alongside a new generation of magicians played by Justice Smith, Dominic Sessa and Ariana Greenblatt, plus additions Rosamund Pike and Morgan Freeman.
Director Ruben Fleischer took the reins for the third film, which leaned into the franchise's now-signature blend of slick heists and stage-magic spectacle. Fifteen years after that anxious first day on set, Franco's "career-ending" movie has become one of the most durable franchises of his résumé (more on that below).
Dave Franco's Whirlwind Year in Hollywood
The Now You See Me revelation lands during one of the busiest stretches of Franco's career. In 2025 alone, he starred opposite his wife, Alison Brie, in the body-horror film Together, appeared in the romantic drama Regretting You, and picked up an Emmy nomination for a guest role on Apple TV+'s The Studio.
Franco has also been candid lately about how he views his own career trajectory, including pushing back on the idea that he owes his success to his brother, James Franco. "If I sucked, I would've disappeared very quickly," he told Bustle, crediting his brother only with helping him land his first agent. It's a rare, grounded reflection from an actor who's spent over a decade building a career independent of his family name.
What's Next for Franco and the Franchise
After wrapping press for Now You See Me: Now You Don't last November, Franco signaled he was ready for a breather. "I'm sure people are sick of me," he joked to PEOPLE at the film's New York premiere, adding that he planned to disappear from the spotlight for a while. Given his packed 2025 slate, the sentiment tracked.
Whether a fourth Now You See Me film materializes remains unconfirmed, though Franco's Hot Ones comments suggest the franchise's future is still very much part of the conversation. For now, fans can simply appreciate the irony: the movie the cast once toasted as a career killer turned into one of Franco's most enduring hits.
Stay tuned to Bigwritehook for more on Dave Franco and the Now You See Me franchise as updates roll in.
Photo Captions
- Dave Franco attends the premiere of Idiots presented by IFC at Vidiots on Aug. 10, 2026. Emma McIntyre/Getty
- Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Dominic Sessa, Dave Franco, Justice Smith, Isla Fisher and Ariana Greenblatt appear together in Now You See Me, Now You Don't. Katalin Vermes/Lionsgate
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