In Now You See Me 3, the Real Transformation Isn't a Trick: Jesse Eisenberg and Justice Smith Explain It All - INTERVIEW

MIAMI – Jesse Eisenberg and Justice Smith live in New York, are actors, and star in Now You See Me: Now You Don't. The similarities, at least those that are immediately apparent, end there. However, the chemistry between them and the rest of the cast not only transcends the screen but is undoubtedly a large part of the success of the third installment in the film saga about illusionists who steal for the greater good.

To the surprise of film industry experts, the film, which also stars Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher, Lizzie Caplan, Dominic Sessa, Ariana Greenblatt, and Rosamund Pike, is not only number one at the weekend box office, grossing $75.5 million, but it achieved this by surpassing productions led by George Clooney and Glenn Powell, Jay Kelly and The Running Man, respectively.

Those who won't raise an eyebrow at this success are the fans who have been waiting for this installment for a decade. And neither will the journalists in Miami who had the opportunity to speak with these actors, including this reporter. The magic the cast creates in the film, the agile direction and editing, and the fun of the story made Now You See Me: Now You Don't an irresistible proposition.

Eisenberg and Justice not only filmed together for several months in New York, Hungary, and Abu Dhabi, but they've also been promoting the film together for weeks. The actors couldn't be more different, but there's no doubt that the camaraderie and trust seen in the latest footage from the film are genuine.

In fact, his characters J. Daniel Atlas (Eisenberg) and Charlie (Smith) have the greatest emotional arc. "Justice's character, Charlie, becomes an incredible illusionist, after starting out very timidly behind the scenes. For me, as an audience member, seeing Justice's transformation was incredible," Eisenberg told me.

"Justice's character Charlie turns into, like, an amazing performer after being very shy, very behind the scenes, and it was amazing. As for me as an audience to watch Justice's wonderful," said Einsenberg.

Atlas, for his part, begins in conflict and with a certain degree of apprehension towards Bosco, Sessa's character, and ends up grown and solid as the leader of the Four Horsemen, who eventually become eight.

The premise of magicians and illusionists robbing the corrupt rich to distribute the loot is repeated in this installment. This time, the target is a diamond heiress, played by Pike. However, this isn't the only act of kindness we'll discuss.

Eisenberg is preparing for a vegan Thanksgiving celebration, complete with a rescued turkey that will spend the rest of its days safely on a farm, and lessons in humane and sustainable agriculture from one of her sisters. "That's one of the most classically liberal New York things I've ever heard," Smith remarked, laughing at her colleague's description.

To which Eisenberg immediately replied: "Do you have room for someone else in your house?... I'll send you my sister..." That's how much fun they were having.

The protégé this year won't be the turkey. Eisenberg gave me details about his much-discussed decision to donate one of his kidneys this year. "It's actually incredible. If you donate your kidney the way I'm doing it, it will be sent to someone who's a match for me," he explained.

This is done in the United States through the National Kidney Foundation . "The idea is that a person who was going to donate to someone else who needed it, but isn't a match, will still donate their kidney and it will go to someone else. So, hopefully, it's like a chain reaction," he added.