The Sorcerer's Apprentice 2010

In the early 8th century, Merlin entrusted three apprentices with his wisdom: Balthazar Blake, Veronica Gorloisen, and Maxim Horvath. However, Horvath’s treachery ran deep as he formed an alliance with Morgana le Fay, a dark sorceress who brutally wounded Merlin before Veronica seized Morgana’s essence and absorbed it into her own being. As Morgana attempted to destroy Veronica from within, Balthazar intervened by imprisoning both Morgana and Veronica in the “Grimhold”, a mystical prison disguised as a nesting doll. In his final moments, Merlin bequeathed his dragon figurine to Balthazar, an ancient artifact capable of identifying the Prime Merlinean - Merlin’s descendant and the only individual who could vanquish Morgana.

Throughout history, Balthazar has been on a quest to locate his descendant, imprisoning Morganians - sorcerers attempting to free Morgana - including Horvath, within the Grimhold. Fast-forward to 2000 in New York City, where 10-year-old Dave Stutler stumbled upon Balthazar’s Manhattan antique store. When Balthazar presented Dave with Merlin’s dragon figurine, the statue came alive, forming a ring that revealed his status as the Prime Merlinean. As Balthazar retrieved a tome intended to teach magic, Dave inadvertently opened the Grimhold, releasing Horvath into the world. A fierce battle ensued between Balthazar and Horvath for control of the Grimhold, resulting in both being imprisoned within an ancient Chinese urn with a ten-year curse.

Ten years later, Dave had grown into a physics student at New York University. The curse was lifted, freeing both Horvath and Balthazar. Horvath relentlessly pursued Dave, driven by his desire to reclaim the Grimhold. Balthazar intervened, rescuing Dave on the back of an animated steel eagle born from a Chrysler Building gargoyle. Initially hesitant to join forces with Balthazar due to past psychological trauma, Dave eventually agreed to help him after Balthazar vowed to leave once the Grimhold was recovered. Together, they tracked down the Grimhold to Chinatown, where Horvath had released Sun Lok, the next Morganian. Dave triumphed over Sun Lok, and Balthazar reclaimed the Grimhold. As Dave began to realize his connection to Merlin’s legacy, he also found himself drawn into a romantic relationship with his childhood crush, Becky, despite Balthazar’s reservations and warnings.

As Horvath conspires to reclaim the Grimhold, he turns to Drake Stone, a charismatic Morganian magician, for assistance in their sinister quest. However, their plan to eliminate Dave Stuntman (Dave) is foiled when Balthazar Blake, the ancient wizard, intervenes to save his life. Cued by Horvath’s manipulation, Dave demands answers about Balthazar’s true intentions and the nature of his perilous journey. Balthazar reveals that Morgana, the imprisoned sorceress, lies trapped within the Grimhold alongside Veronica, her companion. The revelation also uncovers a dire prophecy: if freed, Morgana would unleash “The Rising,” a powerful spell capable of reviving deceased sorcerers and enslaving humanity. As the last living Prime Merlinian, Dave is the sole barrier between this apocalyptic scenario and reality.

Despite Balthazar’s lingering animosity towards Becky (Becky), Dave successfully convinces him to grant permission for their budding relationship to flourish. However, his attempts at magic-assisted lab cleaning ultimately lead to chaos, forcing the cancellation of their planned date. Balthazar’s timely intervention rescues Dave from this predicament, prompting a temporary surrender to the limitations of his magical abilities. Becky’s unwitting influence eventually rekindles Dave’s passion for magic.

Meanwhile, Horvath and Drake embark on a treacherous alliance, culminating in the theft of the Grimhold and the betrayal of Drake’s magical prowess. Horvath unleashes Abigail Williams, an ancient witch, to kidnap Becky at the radio station, subsequently draining her of her unique abilities. With Becky held hostage, Horvath coerces Dave into surrendering his ring, rendering him powerless without a conduit for his magic. Balthazar seizes the initiative, pursuing Horvath through Battery Park.

As Morgana begins to weave her dark spell, Horvath unleashes an animating force upon the Charging Bull sculpture, tasking it with attacking Balthazar. Dave arrives on the scene, stunning Horvath with a Tesla coil tethered to Balthazar’s vehicle while Balthazar’s majestic eagle spirit carries away the bull. Becky unwittingly disrupts Morgana’s Rising Spell, temporarily immobilizing her.

Balthazar, possessing the power to absorb and redirect magical energies, takes control of Morgana’s essence from Veronica, merging their souls within himself. However, Morgana soon escapes and unleashes a devastating blast aimed at Balthazar and Veronica. Dave, without his ring, successfully intervenes to neutralize the threat.

As Morgana overwhelms the combined defenses of Balthazar and Veronica’s shield spells, she ultimately claims Balthazar’s life by redirecting an energy bolt intended for Veronica towards him. In a desperate bid to revive his fallen friend, Dave constructs a larger Tesla coil using the square’s lamp posts and power lines. He then unleashes a barrage of plasma energy, finally destroying Morgana.

With Horvath defeated and Morgana vanquished, Dave revives Balthazar by applying a series of plasma shocks to restart his heart. Balthazar is reunited with Veronica, and the trio embarks on a new journey together. As a symbol of their victory and newfound unity, they fly to France for a leisurely breakfast on the back of Balthazar’s majestic eagle.