The magical heist franchise Now You See Me has returned with a spectacular third instalment, Now You See Me: Now You Don't, captivating UK audiences and pulling in an impressive £15.9 million at the box office on its opening weekend.
The Illusion Unfolds: A New Heist and a Sinister Villain
The plot sees the legendary Horsemen expand their ranks, recruiting three talented newcomers: Charlie Vanderberg (Justice Smith), Bosco Leroy (Dominic Sessa), and June McClure (Ariana Greenblatt). Their initiation is earned after a stunning deepfake performance that takes down a corrupt cryptocurrency exchange owner.
Their first official mission, assigned by J. Daniel 'Danny' Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg) on behalf of the secretive society The Eye, is their most audacious yet: steal the legendary Heart Diamond. The target is the diamond's owner, Veronika Vanderberg (Rosamund Pike), the head of a diamond corporation exposed for money laundering and possessing dark ties to the Nazis.
The Mansion Showdown and a Shocking Death
After successfully securing the diamond, the now seven-strong team of Horsemen regroup at a lavish mansion owned by their ally, Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman). It is here they uncover the full extent of Veronika Vanderberg's sinister past, including her mother's suicide and the murder of her housekeeper and son.
The gathering is violently interrupted by police, who swarm the illusion-filled property to arrest the magicians. In the ensuing chaos, the group is forced to flee, but not before a devastating moment: Thaddeus is shot. The character, a staple throughout the film series, urges his friends to escape, seemingly succumbing to his wounds so their mission would not be in vain.
Fan Theories: Is Thaddeus Really Gone?
However, dedicated fans on platforms like Reddit are not convinced this is the last they have seen of Thaddeus Bradley. Many are speculating that his death was an elaborate trick, pointing to several clues within the scene.
One fan theorised, "I'd bet he'll show up as a surprise appearance in the sequel explaining how he managed to survive, like Colin Firth in Kingsman 2." This sentiment was echoed by another who stated, "I don't buy for a second that Thaddeus is dead. We didn't see a body... Faking a death would be child's play at this point."
Further evidence was cited by an observant viewer who noted, "The bullet hole in the glass doesn't match where he was pretending to be hit either," suggesting the entire shooting was a meticulously staged illusion.
Alongside the speculation about Thaddeus, a significant plot hole concerning Charlie has been a major point of discussion. Several fans have pointed out that Charlie's personal vendetta against Veronika Vanderberg—who was responsible for his mother's death—directly led to the dangerous situation and Thaddeus's apparent demise.
One Reddit user commented, "The story falls apart if you pick at it and Charlie is kinda responsible for Thaddeus' death." Another questioned the original Horsemen's reaction, asking, "Not sure why Thaddeus had to die and that nobody of the OG Horsemen seemed to care that it was kinda Charlie's fault?"
Despite the questions and theories, one thing is clear: the film's intriguing post-credits scene and these unresolved narrative threads have successfully set the stage for another potential magical chapter. Now You See Me: Now You Don't is currently screening in cinemas across the UK.
