Cutter (Michael Caine), at first, is the illusion engineer for Alfred Borden and Robert Angier. But, after the terrible death of Angier's wife, the two pursue separate careers rivaling one another. Cutter then serves as one of the assistants to Angier, along with Olivia Wenscombe (Scarlett Johansson). A morally aware mentor to Angier, he tries to put a stop to the ridiculous rivalry between the two magicians.