Photo Credit: Emblem Pictures
For Dominic Allburn, joining Now You See Me: Now You Don’t was the kind of opportunity that arrives fully formed. A major franchise, a director with a clear vision, and an ensemble cast stacked with some of the most recognisable names in modern cinema. Still, he says there was one detail that made the decision inevitable. “What truly sealed it for me was being cast by Lucinda Syson. That invitation alone carries a certain weight.”
Allburn enters the world of illusion and spectacle as Marc Schreiber, a celebrated Vanity Fair photographer whose stolen identity becomes a pivotal turning point in the film’s central heist. It is a role that sits right at the intersection of chaos and control, something Allburn found instantly compelling. “Marc sees himself first and foremost as an artist,” he explains. “He is disciplined, uncompromising, and obsessed with excellence. He knows precisely what he needs to do his best work and refuses to dilute it for anyone.”
Stepping onto a set populated by Rosamund Pike, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Morgan Freeman, and Mark Ruffalo could easily be intimidating, but Allburn describes the experience as surprisingly playful. “Despite the scale of the production, the atmosphere on set was incredibly generous and focused,” he says. “It was a big machine, but one driven by people who genuinely love what they do.” Working opposite Pike was a particular highlight. “I had wanted to work with Rosamund for a long time, so that was special from the outset.”
That generosity extended to the way director Ruben Fleischer approached Allburn’s performance. Given freedom to push Marc’s intensity as far as the story required, Allburn leaned into the character’s singular focus and rigidity. “That feeling of being caught in the middle was exactly the point of entry for me,” he says. “On a production of this scale, you can feel the momentum immediately. Your job is to jump on, find your rhythm, and let it carry you.”
The moment he found out he had booked the role was fittingly understated. “Very clearly,” he laughs. “I was playing tennis when the call came in.” It is a reminder that even as his career accelerates, Allburn remains grounded in simple routines. Tennis, which he has played since childhood, remains his way to disconnect. “When I am on the court, the world disappears.”
While Now You See Me: Now You Don’t places him inside a slick, high-octane franchise, Allburn’s range is equally evident in the WWII survival drama A Desperate Journey. In the film, he plays Colonel Albert, leader of the French Resistance in Paris and the moral compass of the story. It is a role rooted in conviction and quiet bravery. “Colonel Albert is defined by duty,” Allburn says. “He believes no one escapes responsibility, that individual choice matters. What moved me most was his willingness to place the greater good above his own survival.”
One moment from that production has stayed with him long after filming wrapped, particularly his time working opposite Steven Berkoff. “Sharing the screen with him felt like a dream come true,” Allburn says. “Though one of the biggest challenges was trying not to break when he suddenly launched into an improvised speech in a French accent. Completely unexpected and absolutely unforgettable.”
Despite moving between genres that could not be more different, Allburn insists his preparation process never really changes. “It is always a two-part process,” he explains. “First, you do the groundwork. Script analysis, research, understanding the world. That takes you away from yourself and into the character. Then comes the personal connection. Finding what makes you care so deeply about this person that you feel compelled to defend him on camera.” He admits that part is never comfortable. “It demands feeling like a beginner every time. What worked yesterday might feel flat today.”
That discomfort is something he actively seeks out. “I never want to feel at home,” he says. “The feeling I had on the first day of drama school is what I still chase. That sense of not quite knowing is what keeps it alive.”
With Now You See Me: Now You Don’t set to reignite a global fanbase and A Desperate Journey drawing praise for its emotional weight, Allburn is entering a moment of real momentum. Looking ahead, he hints at an ambitious project already taking shape. “I am developing a biopic that I am hoping will start shooting around mid-2026,” he says. “It is the most ambitious thing I have taken on so far. I cannot say more yet, but it is something I am deeply excited about.”
For now, audiences will see Dominic Allburn at the heart of one of cinema’s most elaborate new illusions, grounding spectacle with precision, restraint, and an unmistakable presence.
A Desperate Journey returns to cinemas on January 27.
