The rivalry escalates when Borden debuts a trick called "The Transported Man," allowing him to seemingly teleport across the stage instantly. Angier, obsessed with discovering the secret, travels to Colorado Springs to meet the real-life inventor Nikola Tesla (played by rock legend David Bowie). Tesla builds a machine for Angier—a mysterious, dangerous device that creates a clone of whatever is placed inside it.

Wally Pfister uses natural, low-light environments and handheld cameras to give Victorian London a gritty, grounded feel.

Hugh Jackman as Robert Angier and Christian Bale as Alfred Borden.