There will be a new spy movie coming soon as Argylle is in the works for Apple TV+. It is going to be directed and produced by Matthew Vaughn. Vaughn is an award-nominated English screenwriter, director, and producer famous for movies like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Stardust, X-Men First Class, and The Kingsman movie franchise. He co-wrote, directed, and produced the latest 2021’s The Kingsman. The script is being written by Jason Fuchs, who has penned various scripts for movies like Ice Age: Continental Drift, Pan, and Wonder Woman. He will also serve as a producer and make an acting appearance in the film.
The movie is based on an upcoming book by Ellie Conway of the same name. Conway is a first-time author whose novel is not yet published but is scheduled to be released early next year. Matthew Vaughn mentioned, “When I read this early draft manuscript, I felt it was the most incredible and original spy franchise since Ian Fleming’s books of the 50s. This is going to reinvent the spy genre.”
Update September 30, 2023: This article has been updated following the recent release of the Argylle trailer.
Yet the film's trailer offered an interesting twist that nobody was expecting. The movie is about the author Ellie Conway, played by Bryce Dallas Howard, realizing her stories are real in a matter of speaking. In fact, Ellie Conway might not even exist. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the only evidence of the author's existence is an Instagram account with no pictures and a two-sentence, and any attempts to contact her or a representative were unsuccessful. This might have all been pre-release marketing before the movie. Here's what we know so far about the plot, cast, and release of Argylle.
Argylle: The Plot
As per Apple TV+ Press:
“The spy thriller follows the globe-trotting adventures of a super-spy named Argylle across the U.S., London, and other exotic locations.”
Argylle will revolve around Elly Conway, an author who specializes in spy novels. Elly, a reclusive introvert who prefers cozying up at home with her cat, Alfie, gets dragged into the thrilling, dangerous world that she writes about when her fiction hits a little too close to the activities of a real-life spy organization. Aiden, a spy, shows up to save Elly from whatever trouble awaits her due to her book giving out details of real spy missions and attracting the attention of the spies, including Argylle and the villain in the film, played by Bryan Cranston.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, “It’s expected to be the first of at least three films in the franchise and is set in America, London, and multiple locations across the world.” Marv Quinn Productions will produce the film. Vaughn, Fuchs, David Reid, and Adam Bohling will serve as producers, and Carlos Peres, Zygi Kamasa, Adam Fishbach, and Claudia Vaughn will serve as executive producers.
Universal Pictures released the official trailer for Argylle on September 28, 2023. The trailer gives fans a glimpse of the exciting storyline of the film and also introduces viewers to the star-studded cast. The trailer starts off with a steamy dance scene between Agent Argylle (Henry Cavill) and Dua Lipa. However, we then learn that it's just a scene that Elly has been penning for her book and relating to her mother.
Little does Elly know that what she's writing, as per the trailer, is stirring a hornet's nest that she didn't even know existed. The trailer then takes viewers to a thrilling, adrenaline-inducing fight scene on a train, where Aiden (Sam Rockwell) does everything he can to protect Elly and her cat, including launching off a bridge with a parachute in tow. Taken to what looks like a safe house, Elly is introduced to the real-life spies whose lives her book has launched into disarray. Looks like guns, bombs, plenty of action, and cats await us in Argylle.
Argylle: The Cast
Apple TV boasts that Argylle features a star-studded, award-winning cast including Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, Bryce Dallas Howard, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, John Cena, Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose, and Samuel L. Jackson. Henry Cavill will be playing the lead role of Argylle, the world's greatest spy, with Bryce Dallas Howard taking on the role of author Elly Conway.
"Henry Cavill, that man was born to play Bond. When you see how he is in this film, I was just like, 'Wow, this guy is everything you'd imagine Bond to have been, or be. Bond has obviously a huge influence on me, but you wait until you see Argylle” Vaughn said. Cavill is an award-nominated British actor who has gained international success and recognition for playing DC Comics Superman, Netflix’s fantasy series The Witcher, and Sherlock Holmes in Enola Holmes, to name a few. He has also starred in spy films before, like Mission Impossible: Fallout and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Back in July 2021, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Dua Lipa would officially be a part of the cast. Lipa is an English singer, songwriter, lifestyle brand founder, model, and now soon to be a movie actor. She is a multi-award-winning international pop star known for her signature disco-pop sound. She is set to make her big-screen acting debut in Argylle, but technically, her cameo in Barbie beat them to release..
Though nothing much about her role is revealed yet, her first look in the film shows Lipa and Cavill engaged in a romantic dance in a bar. Co-star Cavill is wearing a green suit, and Lipa is wearing a sparkling gold dress with a blonde wig. In his Instagram post, Henry Cavill revealed that Lipa’s character is named Lagrange. She will also be creating the score and original music for the movie.
Release Date
Argylle is scheduled to have its theatrical release on February 2, 2024. As of this moment, the film will be released the same day as Barry Levinson's gangster film Wise Guys starring Robert DeNiro and the supernatural horror film Imaginary. The film will be made available for streaming on Apple TV+ after it has completed its theatrical run.