LAS VEGAS, Nevada, USA, September 9 — Keelan Leyser’s show Hacked has the British illusionist performing miracles with the help of a humanoid, a robot dog, and an AI character that roasts the audience. FOX 5 Vegas reporter Dani Masten visited Leyser at Mandalay Bay to talk with him about it.
Hacked combines mind reading and illusion with live robotics at Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce inside Mandaly Bay. It began pilot performances in mid-July and held its grand opening August 6. The cast includes Navitron, the humanoid, and a four-legged robot dog billed as the K9 Unit. LILA, an AI character in the mold of Max Headroom, roasts the audience and takes on deepfakes and artificial intelligence. Leyser told The Blast the show builds toward what AI cannot take away, including human connection and empathy.
Here is the trailer for the show:
Leyser’s website says he was inspired to become a magician at age four after seeing Las Vegas magician Lance Burton on the TV show Knight Rider. The idea for Hacked began in August 2023 as a video interview he recorded with himself.
Tickets are on sale for most Saturdays at 4 p.m. from September 19 through December 26, according to the show’s ticketing page. Doors open at 3 p.m., and prices range from $22 to $55. The show runs about 70 minutes and is recommended for ages 13 and up, though everyone is welcome. It is at 3950 South Las Vegas Boulevard.
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