‘Now You See Me 3’ release date, cast rumors: Director Jon M. Chu reveals why production has yet to start

Director Jon M. Chu explains why fans of the magic heist movie series have yet to hear about “Now Your See Me 3.” It might also be saying something about the potential release date window of the third movie.

‘Now You See Me 3’: Why the delay?

The early preparations to produce “Now You See Me 3” was announced quite early – in 2015, even before the sequel premiered. This suggested there is a certain enthusiasm on Lionsgate's part to keep the series running. However, more than four years later, the filming has not even started yet.

It now appears that the making of the third film hit a snag due to the script. “Before I did ‘Crazy Rich Asians,’ there was a version [of the script] that was okay, but we weren’t going to drag everyone back until it was great,” Chu revealed to ComingSoon.net. “So we let it be in Lionsgate’s hands for a second, so we’ll see what happens.”

This tallies with a report in late 2016 that Lionsgate found the screenwriters they want to work on the “Now You See Me 3” script. Meanwhile, the filming of his blockbuster film “Crazy Rich Asians” reportedly began in April 2017.

Based on what Chu said, it appears that the script for “Now You See Me 3” has yet to be finalized. On the other hand, his hope to return and direct the third installment somehow gives fans enough reason to keep on waiting for the next film.

‘Now You See Me 3’ release date, cast

It is also interesting to see that “Now You See Me 3” is being discussed in the media by some people attached to the earlier movies. Before Chu’s interview, actor Jesse Eisenberg talked to the same publication and responded positively when asked about reprising his role. But, like Chu, the “Zombieland” star is also clueless when they are getting the call for the next movie.

Meanwhile, Chu’s update could mean something else for “Now You See Me 3.” Even if the script gets finalized this year, there are other tedious processes before they could begin filming such as finding a compatible schedule for all the cast members. Filming and post-production could take a year or more to be completed, too. This just means fans have to be patient and expect to wait, possibly, another two to three years to see it on the big screen.