The magicians-cum-master criminals known as the Four Horsemen return to the big screen on July 4 for a second mind-bending adventure in the sequel Now You See Me 2.

Directed by Jon M Chu (Step Up 2/GI Joe: Retaliation) directs a stellar cast of five Oscar winners and nominees including Mark Ruffalo, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Daniel Radcliff, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine.

Set a year after the original in which the illusionists outwitted the FBI and won public adulation for their Robin Hood-style magic spectacles, they are back and exposing the unethical practices of a tech magnate.

This time their adventure goes properly international too, with south London and Surrey getting a slice of the action.

Here’s a little info about some of the locations…

Macau, China (and Longcross, Surrey)

Admittedly a long way from here, the movie gets going in the bright and busy Chinese port town. In the production notes, director Chu said: “We knew we wanted to take the Horsemen to a place where mystery and magic are woven into the history.

“Macau is an exotic, beautiful, strange mix of Portuguese architecture and Chinese culture, with Las Vegas thrown in for good measure. Everywhere you point the camera is gorgeous. The feeling and the texture of the place embody the spirit of what this movie is about.”

Lots of the Macau scenes were shot on location but many of the interiors were shot on soundstages at Longcross Studios in Surrey, including a magic shop inspired by a trip to Davenport’s Magic Kingdom in Norfolk.

Greenwich Market

The film’s finale takes place in London and Greenwich was used extensively, and that includes the market which can be spotted in a trailer where Dave Franco’s Jack Wilder performs a card-throwing trick.

Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich

It has been smashed up by Thor and a location for flicks from Skyfall to the Dark Knight Rises and The Iron Lady, and Now You See Me 2 just had to film here too. Jesse Eisenberg’s illusionist Atlas appears to make the rain go back into the sky in a scene shot here, which would be a pretty handy skill to have.

Cutty Sark

Newcomer Lula (Lizzy Caplan) performs a breathtaking magic stunt in front of the famous old clipper ship.

Tilbury Docks

More magic was shot just across the water from Gravesend.

Victoria Embankment

Shots from the trailer appear to show a view of the London Eye from across the river. And damn fine it looks, too.

Teddington Lock

Listed as a location on IMDB, it’s a mystery to us as to what was filmed here so you’ll have to let us know when you spot it! We do know it was where the Monty Python fish slapping sketch was once filmed, though.

Now You See Me 2 is out July 4

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