The third entry in the franchise, Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, takes its characters on a global trip — from New York to Belgium, from France to Abu Dhabi. Director Ruben Fleischer said: “I wanted to hit those same notes of the previous films, where it’s a travelogue… And since I’m going to these amazing places, I’m going to try to feature as beautiful and cinematic locations as I can possibly find. When you’re doing bank‐heisting magicians, you want to elevate it as much as possible.”
However, most of the production was located in Hungary, especially Budapest, during the summer of 2024. Although Hungary was initially chosen for cost reasons, it offered many adaptable locations and great craftspeople to build further sets. “Once we realised that we were shooting in Hungary, we specifically scripted things to take place in Europe,” Fleischer said. “Originally, the first act was more New York-based. Instead of trying to create New York in Budapest, we decided to lean into the Europe of it all.”
Where Was Now You See Me: Now You Don’t Filmed?
Below is a breakdown of the main filming locations and how each one appears in the film.
South Africa (Diamond Mine)
In the movie, the Vanderberg family diamond mine sits deep in South Africa. In reality, the production team built the entire mine setting inside a quarry outside Budapest. Fleischer explained, “We built Veronika’s glass structure from scratch and then put it deep into the quarry.” Visual effects added more height and depth behind the structure to give it the scale needed for the early heist sequence. Viewers who recall the towering rock walls and industrial platforms may be surprised to know they were almost entirely constructed.
New York City
The Four Horsemen’s apparent return show — staged in a gritty New York warehouse — was filmed in Budapest’s Csepel district. “It was a really cool environment that resembled New York,” Fleischer said. The design team built a stage, added cement textures, and created the illusion of an old industrial building. The loft apartment scene that follows was not shot in Hungary; it was filmed in Toronto during reshoots, replacing an earlier karaoke-bar introduction.
Also, Read – Is There a ‘Now You See Me 3’ (2025) End-Credits Scene?
Antwerp, Belgium
A major sequence takes place in Antwerp, where the Horsemen infiltrate Veronika’s diamond showcase. The production filmed only three days in Belgium, capturing exteriors in Grote Markt and Central Station. Most interior scenes — including the gala — were shot at Budapest’s Museum of Fine Arts and the Hungarian State Opera House. Fans will recognise the sweeping staircase and ornate hall from the heist scene, even though they belong to different buildings blended together.
French Countryside Estate
When the magicians travel to France and uncover a former headquarters of The Eye, the elegant manor they explore is actually Nádasdy Castle in Hungary. The production built the interiors on soundstages, including rotating rooms, mirrored chambers, and an Ames room that shifts perceived size. The Museum of Illusions Budapest helped the team understand how each trick would work in motion. These scenes stand out as some of the most visually inventive in the film.
Abu Dhabi
The final act unfolds in Abu Dhabi, where the film crew spent three weeks shooting both city and desert sequences. The F1 race setting uses the real track at W Abu Dhabi Yas Island — the hotel that sits directly over the circuit. Fleischer said, “I’d never seen a chase with an F1 car on the streets,” noting that several driving scenes were shot on location in the city. The climactic magic-show reveal takes place at Louvre Abu Dhabi, using its open-air courtyard and water feature to give the final scene a large, theatrical scale.
In summary, while the story spans multiple countries, the bulk of filming was in Hungary — with targeted shoots in Belgium and Abu Dhabi to capture distinctive landmarks and deliver that global heist feel.
Courtesy: CNTraveler
