“Once you know the secret don’t let the cat out of the bag.” - An intriguing line greets the viewers to a story that goes deeper than what meets the eye. Argylle, the brainchild of director Matthew Vaughn and starring Henry Cavill alongside Dua Lipa, stands slated to be released on February 2, 2024. The genre of the movie remains an action spy thriller and it shall serve as the first of at least three initial movies in a franchise of the same name.

“From the twisted mind of Matthew Vaughn,” as the official poster reads, Argylle stands out for its universe-within-a-universe meta approach. Based on a real-life author named Elle Conway's first novel of that very name, the movie also has her starring in it, although via Bryce Dallas Howard. Almost a majority of the movie’s stand-outs, this aspect of merging reel with real comes across as a unique and very less explored concept. One can think of it as a fourth-wall-breaking trope without the characters' awareness.

Directed by Matthew Vaughn and adapted by Jason Fuchs, Argylle stars Henry Cavill as the lead and mysterious spy, Agent Argylle. The additional cast includes Dua Lipa as LaGrange, Bryce Dallas Howard as Elly Conway, Sam Rockwell as Aiden Wilde, and John Cena as Wyatt. After that, Sofia Boutella, Samuel L. Jackson, Catherine O’Hara, Alaa Habib, Ariana DeBose, Bryan Cranston, Rob Delaney, Jing Lusi, and Grecia De la Paz stand as the top-billed cast.

Synopsis

As stated by the official website, Argylle is “a razor-witted, reality-bending, globe-encircling spy thriller.” A reclusive real-life author, Elly Conway, finds real-life events closely mirroring the ones she recently penned down for her espionage novels. Organized by a sinister syndicate, The Division, Conway sets off alongside her cat, Alfie, and cat-allergic rescuer, Aiden. The globe-trotting mission soon has her questioning the lines between fiction and reality, yet times go short past them as the stakes keep getting higher. However, the dilemma could not have become any stranger as her book spy, Agent Argylle seems to have come to life amid vibrant colors, high-octane stunts, and a mind-bending meta aspect of the story.

Plot Highlights

1. Elly Conway is real or maybe not

The main protagonist of Argylle is the author herself, Elly Conway. The reclusive author of the best-selling espionage novels on the charming Agent Argylle finds her reality collapsing on itself as the character finds a place in real life even as the events around her start to mirror her writings. The turn of events forces her to go out of her way and take her cat, Alfie, and a well-built, handsome rescuer, Aiden, on a mission to take down a syndicate orchestrating nefarious objectives.

2. The Argylle reality is questionable

The meta aspect of the plot keeps the audience in a guessing game and on the edge of their seats. Will the story take a sci-fi turn? Did Elly Conway enter an alternate world? Did she somehow set her characters loose into reality? No one knows. The questionable aspect drives the soul of the movie as, in search of answers, the thickness of the espionage gets underway in a grand fashion.

3. Sam Rockwell is Henry Cavill as well as Argylle?

Taking a step out into the world remained just the tip of the iceberg. All cats break loose when Conway’s mission takes her right through firing lines that throw Aiden into an overdrive. From fighting threats on a moving train to parachuting off it, the action could never have been higher for the author in real life. Amid all of this, in the train fight sequence from the trailer, Conway starts seeing Henry Cavill’s version of her super-spy in Sam Rockwell’s Aiden, turning her reality head-over-heels.

4. Why did John Cena lift Dua Lipa out of a motorcycle?

The star-studded cast has more roles to play than just supporting Conway. However, who are they? How did they manage to assemble into reality? John Cena, lifting out Dua Lipa from a moving motorcycle, hints at a possible antagonistic medley. Who works for The Division? Are Lipa and Ariana DeBose’s characters allies, undercover agents, or just a speck of imagination?

5. The Division in Argylle wants Elly Conway because…

Who lies behind the secretive yet evil corporation? The Division starts its highly prized mission to get a hold of Conway and her espionage novels. The underground syndicate may have gotten a clue about the author’s stories, or they just might know a bit more. Advanced technologies, a new world order, using her novels to craft a new reality, anything remains a possibility in the world of Argylle.

6. Beyond Henry Cavill and action

Ellie Conway starts to see a reflection of her super spy, Agent Argylle, within her protector. The lines go blurry again as his persona and image start to take the shape of reality. However, within the movie, Henry Cavill would helm and lead the action sequences. Matthew Vaughn’s thirst for well-gelled and adrenaline-high action scenes takes shape in the movie as amid the meta aspect, action and thrill go unhinged.

Cast of Argylle

• Henry Cavill as Argylle: The titular character, a charming and deadly spy ripped straight from the pages of Elly's novels.
• Bryce Dallas Howard as Elly Conway: A reclusive author thrown into the real-world espionage she writes about. 
• Sam Rockwell as Aiden: Elly's enigmatic rescuer with a hidden agenda and an allergy to cats. 
• John Cena as Wyatt: A formidable antagonist within The Division. 
• Samuel L. Jackson: A mysterious figure with unknown allegiances. 
• Dua Lipa as LaGrange: A captivating and influential figure with connections to The Division.
• Ariana DeBose: A skilled operative, possibly an ally or a double agent. 
• Catherine O'Hara as Elly's mother: A quirky and supportive presence in Elly's life. 
• Sofia Boutella: A skilled assassin working for The Division. 
• Grecia De la Paz: A Greek agent possibly involved in the conspiracy.
• Alaa Habib as Zoe 
• Stanley Morgan as Bakunin
• Jason Fuchs
• Jing Lusi
• Rob Delaney
• Bryan Cranston
• Bobby Holland Hanton
• Alfredo Tavares

Production Timeline

Argylle struck Matthew Vaughn at the height of the pandemic. Trying to convince and familiarize his daughters with tropes and genres outside their liking, the X-Men director thought out of the box to come up with the unique idea of a mind-bending spy thriller. Sooner than later, development work and pre-production for the movie started with the idea now moving from thoughts to paper to legal production.

1. Matthew Vaughn begins work on Argylle (June 2021)

Matthew Vaughn found himself attached to directing and producing Argylle for Marv Studios. Thereafter, the script landed at the hands of Jason Fuchs, who was to adapt the piece from the spy novel by Elly Conway. By the end of the month, details and key highlights of the meta aspect, mind-bending reality, and adventure-laden action heavy globe-trotting action thriller began to emerge.

2. Henry Cavill lands in Argylle pre-production (July-August 2021)

The sole aim of Vaughn and Marv Studios now lay to hire someone who could play James Bond before the 007 franchise caught them. All eyes landed straight on Henry Cavill. The 40-year-old British actor had back in 2006 nearly cast himself as Bond, standing as the next best choice after Daniel Craig. Yet, with Superman and The Witcher out of the actor’s working resume, he, too, was out looking. The stars aligned and Henry Cavill got himself cast as Agent Argylle.

In the meantime, updates started pouring in. Bryce Dallas Howard of the recent Jurassic World reboot fame came in to play Elly Conway. Additionally, Dua Lipa found her way in as LaGrange and remains slated to provide the original score and title song for the movie. Finally, the majority of the supporting cast kept ringing in with updates for the duration of the three months, filling in the seats.

3. Argylle goes to Apple TV+ (August 2021 - October 2022)

As per the Hollywood Reporter, Apple TV+ acquired Argylle for $200 million. Starting in September 2021, Vaughn and cinematographer George Richmond began their work on principal photography. London, Greece, Portugal, and the United States landed as favorites for background shots filming. The director opened up on how the pandemic gave him sufficient time to refine the project even as he thanked Apple TV+ for an "incredibly smooth” process owing to its resources. The film now stood as an homage to the classic spy thrillers of the ‘80s.

4. Post-production (November 2022-Present)

All attention shifted to trying to decipher the identity of Elly Conway. Wild fan theories ran amok even as behind-the-scenes production moved at a rapid pace. On September 28, 2023, the first trailer for the movie dropped on YouTube and instantly basked in the spotlight for Henry Cavill’s hairstyle. A first look at Lipa, Howards, Alfie, and brief alludes to the premise surfaced.

Argylle movie release date

After a swooning reception of the trailer, Argylle's release stood as the burning question on fans’ minds. Even though the release date of the book kept getting delayed, the movie found positive updates. Argylle remains slated to release on February 2, 2024, with an Apple TV+ debut at a later date. The runtime of the spy thriller currently stands at 2 hours and 15 minutes, with potential two sequels lined up in the offing.

Argylle book release date

The first novel from Elly Conway, Argylle, originally had a release date of September 29, 2022. However, it soon got pushed back to March 30, 2023. Thereafter, another round had the release window possibly shifted to October last year before the book finally made its way to the shelves on January 9, 2024. As of now, the book remains widely available in major offline and online stores and sells as “The Explosive Spy Thriller That Inspired the New Matthew Vaughn Film starring Henry Cavill and Bryce Dallas Howard.” 

Who is Ellie Conway in Argylle?

Crafting a masterclass in building mystery, Matthew Vaughn has placed the identity of Ellie Conway in two likely perspectives: inside and outside of Argylle. Interestingly, no one has any solid evidence of who either is. While Bryce Dallas Howard does play the character in the movie, whether Ellie Conway remains a pen name for an undercover and truly reclusive author could be anyone’s guess. Moreover, there also remains considerable meta questionability if the duo will merge into one single personality.

1. Ellie Conway in Argylle, the movie

Within the movie, Bryce Dallas Howard plays the reclusive author. In a trailer shot, she could be seen holding her book with Howard’s face prominently inscribed as Ellie Conway. However, with the lines blurring between reality and fiction within the movie, could the author end up becoming a character in her novel? Or will the novel unfold to be reality itself? The questions are tantalizingly mind-bending and there remains no answer until release.

2. Ellie Conway in reality

Ellie Conway follows a meta-fictional narrative in real life as well. For no one knows who the real person is or even if she exists in reality! “Elly Conway was born and raised in upstate New York. She wrote her first novel about Agent Argylle while working as a waitress in a late-night diner.” The simple two sentences describe the unknown author in Penguin UK’s official biography section. Several narratives float around her actual personality, while most seem to agree that Ellie Conway remains most likely a pen name for someone else pulling the strings.From Matthew Vaughn, himself, to a retired spy and from a marketing ploy to Taylor Swift, theories ran amok on Ellie Conway’s real identity. Although a verified Instagram account exists in her name, it does not carry a profile picture. Almost all the posts are of random books, streets, flora, and fauna of the streets of New York.

Why exactly is there a cat in Argylle?

Argylle premiered on the red carpet with its cast minus Dua Lipa and, suspiciously, Alfie the cat. While the movie posters firmly depicted either the feline in her basket or Henry Cavill’s hands, there remains a mystery about its actual role in the movie. While many signs have hinted that she alluded to Taylor Swift, that theory has now seen countless debunks. Moreover, amidst the adrenaline-kicking action, bullets, and luxe, why did Argylle feature a cat?As of now, no concrete explanation for the same exists. At least, not until the movie’s release. The likely reasons include Alfie playing a deeper look than what the trailer aims to project. The cat may serve as a link between Elly Conway’s blurred and actual realities, or may even hold the likely clue as to why her book suddenly happened to unravel around her. Additionally, with Alfie staying beside Conway for the entirety of the trip, as per the trailer, it may well hold some purpose in the plot’s meta aspect.In another likelihood, it may be practically of no concrete use to the plot. Rather than having any deep links within worlds, the cat may just be a placeholder for humor or help in shedding the heaviness of the plot. Either way, it may either be a plot device much like the dog in John Wick, or appear for the fun of it like JB, the pug of the Kingsman franchise.

Who is Alfie the cat in Argylle?

As per the film’s lore, the cat owned by Ellie Conway in Argylle bears the name, Alfie. In terms of appearance, it appears to have thick, fluffy fur of a predominantly light gray color with darker tabby markings, particularly on its face and along its back. With a striking balance of coolness and confidence, its expressive eyes and triangular ears described its trademark outlook. In real life, however, a few interesting facets revolved around the cat.Alfie remained scheduled to be played by a professional cat actor of a similar appearance. However, on the first few days of the shoot, it did not comply. Rampant delays marked a visible frustration on Matthew Vaughn’s face and, unfortunately, the cat had to be fired. Fortunately, the saving grace came right back from the director and his wife. The couple’s family cat, Chip, was volunteered to fill in the role.Remarkably, Chip turned out to be a natural. With Matthew Vaughn as its pet-father, it would hardly come as a surprise. Soon enough, the cameras started rolling and Chip sat comfortably in its backpack and beside Bryce Dallas Howard’s Elly Conway. Responding to cues, Chip soon became a favorite among the cast and crew. All the above facts and turn of events come after considering that Alfie features only in Argylle the movie and not in the actual novel.

Argylle trailer breakdown

The first trailer for Argylle dropped on September 28, 2023, and soon called for a massive hype. Almost all of the movie’s intrigue made its way to the general audience following the gigantic rollout and sheer craftsmanship of the trailer. It showcased the first previews of Henry Cavill as Agent Argylle, Dua Lipa as LaGrange, and Bryce Dallas Howard as Elly Conway at key locations such as Hong Kong. An in-depth breakdown would reveal the hidden details. Meanwhile, the opening song ‘Gonna Get You Some Sunshine’ echoed a Bond theme, while the chase sequences evoked memories of The Bourne Identity, paying homage to those classic spy thrillers Argylle drew inspiration from.

1. Argylle opens with Dua Lipa

The trailer started with a look at Dua Lipa dressed in a sequin, shimmering golden dress. A Parisian nightclub, alight with golden lights and hues, perfectly complementing the former’s character, lighting up the scene. Soon after, the camera panned to a charming, buff, and charismatic Henry Cavill sporting a characteristic grin and a debatable hairstyle. “I certainly hope you dance as well as you dress,” the highlight spoke.

2. The spy thriller follows espionage with a twist

The dance soon turned into a twist and just at the drop of the beat, a multitude of guns locked in on Agent Argylle. A whole new direction rolled out soon after. Dua Lipa’s character serving bullets to Cavill’s kick-started the scene, which also called on John Cena. A high-octane action preview unfolded with chases down winding roads, a car jumping off a cliff, explosions, gunfire, near-misses, and the adrenaline dialed up without hesitation. The shot ended with the meta approach kicking in with the last shot of Cena picking up Lipa literally off her bike with just his one hand.

3. Elly Conway’s role in Argylle

“It's called a cliffhanger, Mother.” The one-line of dialogue sets the tone of interaction between Bryce Dallas Howard’s Elly Conway and her mother portrayed by Catherine O'Hara. Busy at work typing on the next lines of the novel, she then found herself pitched right into the action. A look at Alfie in its argyle backpack and Aiden turning from a co-passenger to the reclusive author’s protector swooned in. Quickly, she found herself in the pursuit of The Division, who remained eager for her to write down the next chapter of her novel. Why? It was because she “kicked a hornet’s nest” and was a “fortune-teller”.

4. What is the cat in Argylle up to?

Nonchalantly walking over the title card, Alfie dropped a hint of oozing exuberance and calm to the real-life espionage. Surrounded by real-life spies, the background showcased the skylines of Hong Kong, where a major plotline would likely play out. “Don’t let the cat out of the bag,” the cat read before showing Aiden dropping off Alfie from the top of a building followed by him and Conway. Gold bars, cinematic action sequences, gunfire, and, of course, explosions rattled the arena.

5. The meta cliffhanger surrounding the Argylle trailer

The meta aspect of the story remained mentioned at times within the story, with Conway unable to process the events surrounding her and her mother refusing to believe her narrating the blurring of reality. “It's time for you to meet the real agent Argylle,” Samuel L. Jackson’s character pointed out before the camera finally shifted to Cavill on a boat with the sun shining directly off him. “What happens next?” The trailer asked at one point hinting at how the dots would connect themselves and with that, the cars closed with a February 2, 2024 release date embossed on them.

All the filming locations for Argylle

Alfie jumping from the bottom of a fall may indeed be CGI, but Argylle left no corner untouched in making sure it touches upon the allure of scenic backdrops married to high-octane chases. At its root, it has to live up to the criteria of expectations from a typical James Bond flick to set well as a franchise starter. Moreover, the last 007 movie, No Time to Die, filmed its scenes in a variety of locations across Norway, Italy, Jamaica, and Scotland. Hence, Vaughn, too, did not leave sceneries as green-screen rendered.Highly secretive with many of its details, the major clues on the film’s filming have come from its trailer shots, promotional clips, and a few official drops. As per Variety, the principal photography of the movie wound up shots across the US, the UK, Greece, and a few other locations in the European Union. Additionally, the team also rented Greenford and Park Royal studios, with some scenes taking place in the backdrops of Bovingdon Village in the UK.Judging by the trailer shots, Europe’s scenic mountain ranges and railways may have also played their role in several shots. Moreover, a shot lining up the Hong Kong skyline also appeared although there remains no clarity if the team did visit the location. Greece’s iconic white buildings, narrow cobblestone pathways, and Greek coffee have also received mentions in recent promotional materials.

Who exactly does Henry Cavill play in Argylle?

Sticking strictly to the movie version, Henry Cavill plays Agent Argylle, the world’s best spy. Also starring as the main protagonist of Elly Conway’s book, the character would serve a meta approach by literally being face-to-face with his creator outside of the books. The plot has him navigating the storyline and brushing past the criminal syndicate that insists on making the reclusive author write the next chapter of the book for its sinister purposes.

Based on her vision, Conway’s secretive super-spy stands tall as a dashing, invincible hero who has an unfathomable liking for stylish suits. In several shots from the trailer, Argylle wears a much-debated green suit, which Matthew Vaughn sought to differentiate from his Kingsman series by adding a new haircut. Regardless, in terms of actual departure from the likes of James Bond, Henry Cavill’s spy suffers from amnesia.Thrown into the deceit and dangers of international intrigue, Agent Argylle goes about the movie, trying to reminisce his past and fit the pieces to decode his own identity. While the former Geralt of Rivia actor brought his own stature and physical buffs, the goofy hairstyle, an element of self-awareness, and a tinge of wittiness vow to set him apart from several renditions of a super spy.

Matthew Vaughn spills the beans on the Argylle look of Henry Cavill

Soon after the drop of the Argylle trailer, fans went into a frenzy. While considerable hype did center around the one-of-a-kind universe within a universe trope, significant attention went into dissecting the on-screen look of the lead, Henry Cavill. The ex-Superman actor wore a black suit in the opening shots as the camera panned to his debatable hairstyle. Featuring a flat-top, slightly receded hairline, the look soon started a meme-fest online. Amidst this debate of why came Matthew Vaughn to explain the rationale.In the aforementioned Josh Horowitz interview, the X-Men franchise director opened up on the style serving its purpose to distinguish between reel and real. While appearing to be out-of-character for a spy who stood as the world’s best, the hairstyle came across as lore-accurate as per the books. Rather, it would constantly nudge the in-universe Elly Conway on the differences between her idea of a super-spy and a real-life version of the same. Most importantly, by opting to make it a subject of ridicule, Vaughn added an element of remembrance.

How did Henry Cavill train for Argylle?

Henry Cavill left no stone unturned in preparing himself to accuracy for Argylle. Much like the actor did for Man of Steel as well as The Witcher, he went for strict sessions on physical fitness, lore acuity, and researching about the character. Firstly, for the high-octane action sequences in the movie, the British actor built on his physique to be able to handle the demands and pressure it put on the body. Interval sprints, sculpting muscle mass, and training with dedicated combat lessons came as his primary focus.Thereafter, to maintain the authenticity of the character as Elly Conway intended, the 40-year-old took to learn and hone the elements of dance and undertook fluently choreographed lessons. Developing a unique voice and tone for Agent Argylle to bring forth his themes of cleverness, charisma, and humor came across as the second most important undertaking for the project. Although only a few voice lines of his made their way to the trailer, the actor has naturally imbibed a personal touch to his on-screen character.

Finally, Argylle stood on the shoulders of not just Cavill but his entire team of co-stars. To flesh out his bonhomie with the star-studded cast, the Justice League actor reportedly spent time with them in between shoots. The likely result of this time would echo in the on-screen chemistry between him and the likes of Dua Lipa, Sam Rockwell, and John Cena.

Who does Dua Lipa play in Argylle?

Dua Lipa will mark her full-length feature film debut when Argylle hits the screens this February. Although the singer had a 30-second cameo in Barbie, this would be her first proper mainstream role and provide her the honor of accentuated screen time. Featured in the very first shot of the only trailer for the movie so far, dressed in a gold sequin gown, Lipa plays LaGrange in Argylle. Skillful in using weaponry, motor-biking, and charming with her persona, her role came across as that of an antagonist to Cavill’s super-spy from the teaser.

Once again, like the main character, she also follows a meta approach in-universe. A prominent character in Elly Conway’s books, LaGrange as an action figure, appeared firmly in the author’s book events within the movie, as depicted by the trailer. Her existence outside of the books and blending into reality puts forth the notion that she would serve more than a fragment of imagination with her glamor in the world of high-stakes espionage.Finally, Dua Lipa will not only act but also lend the original score and title track to Argylle. Playing a skilled fighter on screen, her dual role behind the scenes serves as a testimony to a debut of a grand scale. While her track for the Greta Gerwig summer blockbuster earned her acclaim, her acting skills would see true depth with the Matthew Vaughn spy thriller.

Dua Lipa follows Henry Cavill in changing hairstyle for Argylle

Dua Lipa sports a naturally brown to auburn hair color with gentle yet voluminous waves. Soon after, in many of her music videos, the red hair became a staple and fans recognized her for that dark-tinged hair. However, in the early weeks of January 2024, the ‘Houdini’ singer showcased a close-up look at her hair-wear in Argylle. The very same as depicted in the trailer, the singer’s new look also became a subject of debate, much like Cavill’s new look.In Argylle, Lipa sports a shoulder-grazing bob with choppy layers featuring a platinum blonde look. The icy cool look gave a modern and edgy feel while at the same time echoing back the looks from classic ‘80s thrillers. Wearing a tousled, textured look with a sleek and polished shine, the new hairdo matched resplendently with her golden attire worn throughout the massive action piece depicted in the trailer.

Is Taylor Swift the real Elly Conway?

At some stage during late 2022, at the height of her Eras Tour, Taylor Swift found herself mentioned as Ellie Conway of Argylle. Fan theories soon ran wild that the 34-year-old singer did indeed bear close resemblance to the reclusive red-haired author and thus, could be the real one. A dig deeper by fans and the signs started alarmingly pointing that being true. Sooner than before, the internet shifted from queries of whether Taylor Swift was Ellie Conway to how Taylor Swift was the Argylle author.A slew of easter eggs and nods brought concrete evidence to that theory.

1. Taylor Swift hints at Argylle with her music?

A few of Taylor Swift's songs, such as ‘Paper Rings’ and ‘State of Grace’ eerily resembled the plot of Argylle. Not only did they mention “Elly” at one point or another, but also the aspect of a world within a world as well as a pseudonymous author emerged from her music videos. A quick rundown analysis from fans turned mere speculation into a glaring possibility and in all likelihood, Taylor Swift being Ellie Conway all along became a near-truth.

2. The Eras Tour singer’s fashion sense offers clues

Argylle stems from a wordplay on the actual English word of argyle which refers to a knitting featuring a pattern composed of diamonds of various colors on a plain background. The Argylle book cover as well as the official poster throw alludes to it. Remarkably, in her music video for ‘All Too Well’, Taylor Swift wore a scarf of similar knitting. Additionally, the patterns on the singer’s wear and the official artwork aligned a bit too perfectly to be coincidental.

3. Taylor Swift has the cat from Argylle?

At the single most overlooked yet central aspect of Argylle remains Alfie, the cat. The movie posters, trailers, and merchandise have all featured the gray Scottish Fold cat. Interestingly, the singer owns a cat of the same likeness named Meredith. Moreover, the way Ellie Conway carries her cat around in an argyle-knitted backpack came strikingly close to what Taylor Swift used. Finally, the in-movie version of the feline happens to be director Matthew Vaughn’s daughter’s cat who took it home after gaining inspiration from the singer’s Miss Americana documentary. And before anyone knew, the cat ran out of the bag and the nods came across as too hard to dismiss altogether.

Matthew Vaughn’s daughter insisted Taylor Swift and Elly Conway are the same

Argylle had its screenplay adapted by Jason Fuchs from Elly Conway’s debut novel. Yet, the curious cats from the fandom linked Taylor Swift to the masquerading reclusive author. Even after countless debunks, the link-ups received a renewed head-start when Matthew Vaughn’s daughter confronted him. “You never told me Taylor wrote the book!” A Rolling Stone interview documented the director sharing the light-hearted conversation where he admitted to not being a “big internet guy”.A massive chunk of social media has, of late, stayed active in connecting the dots between Taylor Swift and Argylle. However, yet again, the Kick-Ass director shot down the rumors. “She definitely didn’t write the book,” Vaughn quoted after sharing a good laugh on his daughter’s allegations. Yet, the movie’s official handles quoting Taylor Swift’s lyrics and the singer not looking to dispose of the conspiracy theories has left fans wondering if she is about to pull an Andrew Garfield-esque Spider-Man: No Way Home move.

Henry Cavill hints at Taylor Swift being Elly Conway during Argylle promotions

“Does she write her books?” Henry Cavill pondered the very question when asked about Taylor Swift being Elly Conway and writing Argylle novel rumors recently with Entertainment Tonight. The British actor admitted to having only recently come across the fan theories circulating online and had himself considerably impressed by the sheer scale and depth of those. “What if we double-bluffed and it actually was her?” With Sam Rockwell by his side, the 40-year-old added another careful twist to the fanning curiosity.Soon after calling himself open to being a Swiftie, Cavill concluded the discussion by neither accepting nor denying the claims. With the movie’s February 2nd release date fast approaching, fans are losing patience and stand eagerly awaiting an official confirmation. In the meantime, the official Instagram handle of Elly Conway retorted to promoting the movie with official clips and cryptic clues about her identity.

Elly Conway actress Bryce Dallas Howard weighs in on Taylor Swift rumors alongside the Argylle cast

Bryce Dallas Howard plays the in-universe Elly Conway in Argylle and recently affixed her firm belief that Taylor Swift did indeed have an impact. In talks with Entertainment Tonight, the 42-year-old actress opined that “I mean, certainly–there are, you know–it's unconsciously inspired by Taylor Swift”. Speaking head-on about the singer’s fandom connecting the dots so intricately, she believed that the sheer coincidences could be a result of their manifestation.The remarks found resonance with Matthew Vaughn, also stating that “the amount of odd connections” between Argylle and Taylor Swift looked just too true to be coincidental. In the meantime, the additional cast also weighed in their thoughts on the same. John Cena took a strategic outlook by believing that “Taylor Swift and her fanbase can be a vocal voice” for Argylle. The cast also added their “push for awareness with some misdirection and deception” as the current hypothesis is also actively promoting the movie.

Which movies does Argylle draw inspiration from and pay homage to?

Matthew Vaughn remains no stranger when it comes to making spy thrillers. Famed for the Kingsman series, his Argylle approach has him dialing his creativity up a notch. The meta-universe approach has added sufficient intrigue while Cavill’s presence on the main screen after a long time has called favorable attention to the flick. However, at the root of it all, stands the many inspirations that the filmmaker drew from several classics down the line while inspiring new ones to come.The director has openly declared his spy thriller as a love letter to the ‘80s era of action and thrill. Drawing inspiration from action scenes from quintessentially timeless ones like Die Hard and Lethal Weapon. Meanwhile, the action flick draws a keen parallel to itself and the likes of James Bond movies. Featuring iconic locations, luxury suits, and revolving action, Argylle also pays homage to Quentin Tarantino's signature blend of genres, and nonlinear storytelling.On another end, movies like Atomic Blonde and Kill Bill: Vol. 1 would also leave a mark on the movie, as the trailers suggest. The variety of action, its themes, and the drift of music also likens it to Moulin Rouge! Furthermore, Vaughn has teased a bevy of easter eggs and references to his own movies as well as hidden clues to decipher the code within the movie’s link to the real world. While it lines up with tributes and parallels, its intrigue grows ever stronger.

Argylle shares the same universe as the Kingsman franchise

Matthew Vaughn holds some ambitious plans in coupling all of his cinematic franchises together. At the forefront of his foray, however, lies the Kingsman franchise with three movies so far. Based on the story of a fictional British Intelligence wing, the Savile Row tailor shop-masked organization has found widespread acclaim for its action, storyline, as well as direction. Speaking to Josh Horowitz back in October 2023, the director unraveled his plans to formulate a Marvel Cinematic Universe of his own making.“So we've got The Kingsman on the right and I'd say Argylle is on the left and then we've got an idea for something in the middle as well.” The lines from the director have thus revealed a total of three franchises coming under his mega-banner of a shared universe. While the Kingsman franchises have already had three and a likely fourth movie in the making, Argylle will be, at least, a trilogy. However, what the yet unnamed franchise pertained to or would likely hold remains something only Matthew Vaughn knows.

The hurdles in Argylle sharing its universe with the Kingsman franchise

Matthew Vaughn’s plans to link Argylle and the Kingsman movies, along with a third unnamed one, have some potential hurdles to sort out before any merger. While they may appear similar on the surface with their themes of elegant action and spy charm, lore inaccuracies may clash. Here is a look at some of the likely ones.

1. Overlapping faces in Argylle and the Kingsman series

A sore thumb sticking out in maintaining continuity between the Argylle and the Kingsman franchises comes in the form of Samuel L. Jackson and Sofia Boutella appearing in both of them. The Avengers actor played Richmond Valentine, a tech billionaire and villain in the Taron Egerton movies whereas he also stars in the Henry Cavill flick, possibly as Morlock, a powerful intelligence agent. Meanwhile, the Rebel Moon actress played Gazelle in the former while coming across as a skilled assassin in the upcoming one.Having the same people play different universes within the same universe is indeed a major disturbance in the continuity. Unless the filmmaker has some tricks up his sleeve with some cover explanations and turnaround, the combined audience would find it hard to follow the flow of narratives between the two worlds. Regardless, the task remains achievable, even if a head-scratcher.

2. Timeline and narrative inconsistency

The Kingsman movies have their history stretching from the early 19000s. However, judging by the trailer and all other descriptions, Argylle takes place in the current real-world timeline, give or take a few years. Thus, to have any character crossovers and resolve any gaps in the flow of narration, any historical mentions in Argylle need to have a firm grasp and callback to the Saville Row movies. Likewise, any events of importance like the World Wars will need to follow the merged timeline history.Although the two franchises may happily share the world with over a century of gap in between, their central characters would remain inaccessible without plot cover. Therefore, the plausibility of only a shy few easter eggs spread here and there would serve as the only bridge between the two. All of it still will have to adjust to lore-specific appearances as modern weaponry from Argylle appearing in the next Kingsman movie, if set in the early years of the 20th century will need massive explanation.

3. Creative restrictions in Argylle and the Kingsman movies

The Kingsman movies stay centered on a secretive society with tailored suits and a different structure. Argylle, while a spy movie, takes a more global approach with multiple locations, glitz, and glamor. An inherent focus on trying to combine the two franchises explicitly will result in serious narrative limitations. Additionally, making any of the characters or themes from either crossover also needs meticulous attention to detail. In many ways than not, a potential union between the two may only happen on the surface level without diving too deep into any of their worlds.Regardless, at its core, Argylle and the Kingsman franchise both remain in the safe hands of Matthew Vaughn. The kingpin narrative holder of the two and with ample experience in mega movie-making, the director may certainly know his way around to be able to link up these two as well as the incumbent third franchise into an intricate spy universe rivaling or even surpassing that of the James Bond saga.

Natalie Viscuso showers praise on Henry Cavill while complimenting him for the first Argylle premiere

On January 18, 2024, the first red-carpet premiere for Argylle took place in the Yongsan CGV Art Center in Seoul, South Korea. Matthew Vaughn headlined the cast with Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, and John Cena attending the event in flair. While Dua Lipa remained conspicuously absent, Henry Cavill and his girlfriend, Natalie Viscuso, made their first Argylle red carpet debut as a couple at the event. The theme at the premiere spoke of vibrant ‘spy-fi’ even as the lurking search for a possible first look at the real-life Elly Conway, attending the premiere, ended in disappointment.The couple coordinated in matching black outfits with exuberant radiance. Henry Cavill opted for a timeless look with a single-breasted blazer featuring peak lapels and tailored trousers. Additionally, a black button-down shirt left slightly unbuttoned at the collar highlighted his signature charismatic style. Finally, a pair of sleek black dress shoes complimented his overall look and made him fit for the event.

 

On the other hand, the lead’s girlfriend opted for a floor-length black gown with a long-sleeved design and a plunging neckline. A pearly white handbag and sparkling drop earrings with a matching cuff bracelet highlighted her minimalism and allowed her to take center stage and echo as a power couple alongside Cavill. Finally, a pair of strappy black heels completed her look of elegance.

Soon after the premiere, Viscuso shared a “Proud girlfriend moment” in her social media stories. Sharing a view of a billboard across her hotel room view playing the Argylle trailer, she let the world know that she would happily watch it again despite possibly having watched it countless times already.

Argylle marks its world premiere in style in London

Argylle marked its world premiere red carpet event on January 24, 2024, at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London. The star-studded event saw almost the entirety of the movie’s cast descend down with their own taste of glamor. More importantly, Dua Lipa, who stayed absent during the Seoul premiere also marked her outing in a Sabato De Sarno custom sequin Gucci gown.Among the star highlights, the lead actor, Henry Cavill walked in alongside his girlfriend, Natalie Viscuso. The Agnety Argylle actor complemented his outing with a dark blue blazer laden with black buttons and outlines. To take the pairing home, Viscuso opted for a striped pale-golden coat along with a floor-length white gown underneath. Letting her wavy locks flow below shoulder-length, she stood out in the spotlight with her bright red lipstick.Thereafter, Sofia Boutella marked her show with a silver Carolina Herrera Spring 2024 embellished cut-out gown. Elly Conway actress, Bryce Dallas Howard shimmered in a green gown that spoke out resplendently in the spotlight. Furthermore, Ariana DeBose stole the show with a shining smile complemented by her Cong Tri Fall 2023 sequin-detailed wool-crepe blazer dress. John Cena walked along in a pinstriped suit, black dress shirt, and white tie along with his wife, Shay Shariatzadeh, who matched in outfits.Finally, Matthew Vaughn made his filmmaker entry wearing a black hat, a buttoned jacket, and a sleek pair of matching shoes. The Kingsman director stood accompanied by his wife, Claudia Schiffer, who walked in a golden argyle chequered gown. However, in their red carpet talks, the cast mostly kept to the outer details and prepared the audience for a fun-filled ride ahead by shedding no spoilers.

Alfie the cat makes her red carpet debut for Argylle

Matthew Vaughn and Claudia Schiffer brought in the star attraction of Argylle, Alfie the cat, played by their family cat, Chip. Schiffer brought her male Scottish Fold in precisely the same backpack as Elly Conway in the movie. Striking the bevy of poses, the duo complemented the argyle knittings and lacings all over. Remarkably, Chip managed to hold on to his natural curiosity and peered through the backpack, soaking in the flashlights. At the end of the appearances, Chip stayed in for a cast photo, while tucked in the backpack.

Henry Cavill calls out Matthew Vaughn again for Argylle hairstyle

Dazzling in sheer style factor, Henry Cavill walked up to the red carpet host only to reply with the most burning factor about his super spy. When asked what his childhood self would look back and say to this very moment, the ex-Superman star cheekily responded, “Why the haircut?” The British actor then proceeded to expand on it with the truthful reason - “because Matthew Vaughn told me it’s iconic.” The exchange marked another round of attention and reignited the debate surrounding his in-movie look.Sporting a flat-top, slightly receded hairline, Henry Cavill’s look in Argylle stands as a testament to his meta aspect. Matthew Vaughn has cleared it before on his intention to make it memorable. Additionally, it will also reflect upon Elly Conway’s vision of a super-spy colliding with the ground reality. While making him significantly stand out among the likes of James Bond and the Kingsman characters, Agent Argylle will have enough remembrance to easily sail through a trilogy and hopefully, more.

First reviews of Argylle pitch it as an Oscar contender

Ahead of the review embargo of Argylle lifting on 31st January, several critics voiced their first impressions after special screenings. The Matthew Vaughn spy flick managed to gain rave positivity before its eventual 2nd February release. Many highlighted the use of skillful action scenes blended with music and elegance. The intrigue factor of the movie stayed surprisingly strong with almost all the reviews promising an edge-of-the-seat last-minute twist. As for the performances, Henry Cavill and the cast’s energy echoed and brought in numerous applause.An independent critic, Luiz Fernando, heaped praises for the stunt work in the movie, calling out the Academy to include a new Oscars category for stunts. Additionally, the Electric Energy soundtrack, coupled with action scenes, reportedly came across as powerful enough to compete with Barbie’s soundtrack or a Best Original Song nod. A few others also summed up the movie as a roller-coaster ride of twists and turns culminating in a satisfying conclusion.Both Henry Cavill and Sam Rockwell received commandments for their stints as a super-spy. While not yet disclosed, the duo will somehow co-exist in the same time and space or perhaps the reality will bend around them. Nevertheless, the comments from critics, stated their fighting styles to be original and well-executed. Finally, with an overwhelming number of reviewers adjudging the movie as a “fun ride”, the movie stands set for box office success.