Now You See Me: Now You Don't Revives a Key Character, Solving a Major Plot Hole
Lionsgate
Don't expect any overly complex magic tricks that reveal the corruption of the wealthy and restore justice if you haven't watched 'Now You See Me: Now You Don't.' Spoilers ahead!
If you're familiar with the 'Now You See Me' franchise, you know there was a significant cast change between the first two films. In 2013's 'Now You See Me' (directed by Louis Leterrier), the central group of storytellers—the morally upright, heist-pulling magicians known as the Four Horsemen—consisted of J. Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg), mentalist Merritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson), sleight-of-hand expert Jack Wilder (Dave Franco), and escape artist Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher). However, Fisher's real-life pregnancy disrupted the production schedule for Jon M. Chu's 'Now You See Me 2' in 2016, leading to the introduction of Lula May, a new magician with a knack for misdirection and elaborate disguises, played by Lizzy Caplan.
As someone who appreciated both Henley and Lula and noticed Caplan's absence from most marketing for the long-awaited third film, 'Now You See Me: Now You Don't,' directed by Ruben Fleischer (known for Eisenberg and Harrelson's 'Zombieland'), I was delighted to see Caplan's Lula appear around halfway through the 2025 release. Fleischer addressed this directly: "I was proud that we could rectify the unexplained swap of Henley and Lula in the second movie and address that story."
How did Fleischer and his team bring Lula back into the franchise, and what should we remember about her from the second film?
Lula May Joins the Horsemen in 'Now You See Me 2'
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In 'Now You See Me 2,' when Atlas, Merritt, and Jack reunite, they briefly mention that Henley, played by Isla Fisher, became bored waiting for orders from the Eye, a mysterious organization that often manipulates the Four Horsemen. In her place, they work with Lula, who showcases her magical skills by breaking into Atlas' house and later becomes the official fourth Horseman after being enlisted by Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo).
Lula's strengths lie in misdirection, similar to Jack, and she's also a master of costumes and faking medical emergencies. Not only is she incredibly funny, but Caplan, a naturally talented comedic actress, has been making people laugh for years in shows like 'Mean Girls,' 'Party Down,' and the underrated 'Bachelorette.' Lula's romantic connection with Jack, a magician she admired as a fangirl, adds to the film's appeal.
How does 'Now You See Me: Now You Don't' bring back Lula May?
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'Now You See Me: Now You Don't' follows a sequence where the Four Horsemen reluctantly reunite to take down Veronika Vanderberg, a diamond magnate played by Rosamund Pike. This time, they're joined by newcomers Charlie (Justice Smith), Bosco (Dominic Sessa), and June (Ariana Greenblatt). When Merritt asks Jack about Lula, he reveals that she moved to Paris, seemingly ending their story. However, the writers cleverly brought her back.
After the now-Seven Horsemen encounter a seemingly abandoned chateau in France, they're hunted by French police. Jack, Merritt, and June are imprisoned, but Henley and Atlas realize they have a friend in France. Caplan's Lula saves the day by dressing as a French vagrant, freeing the prisoners, and providing much-needed levity with her bizarre admiration for Veronika and constant complaints about being ignored.
'Now You See Me: Now You Don't' is now in theaters. (Source: SlashFilm)
