Is Argylle Based On A Book? Henry Cavill Spy Movie Director’s Answer Will Make Your Head Spin

Argylle director Matthew Vaughn has revealed whether the upcoming spy movie starring Henry Cavill is based on a real book. The film revolves around author Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard) being hunted by a secret organization when it’s revealed her books about super spy Argylle (Cavill) predict the future. She is accompanied by real secret agent Aiden (Sam Rockwell) as she evades capture from the organization that wants her.

Speaking with Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Vaughn revealed the complex answer about if the sometimes Cavill-led Argylle is based on a real book.

The discussion, which starts at 8:46, reveals Elly Conway is a real author who will be publishing the first of at least four planned Argylle books before the film’s February 2, 2024 release. However, the movie itself is based on the unpublished fourth book in the series. Check out Vaughn’s head-spinning answer below:

It’s based on a book…. It’s coming out in January. So it’s being written [by]… Elly Conway.

I read the book, they bought the manuscript of the book, and met with [writer Jason] Fuchs, and we just came up with this… it is a very meta movie, so it’s got lots of tropes that I’ve been guilty of making with spy movies which we’re sort of trying to reinvent. And then there’s a whole series of books planned. And so this movie – as I said, I don’t want to spoil it all – but I sort of like the idea of the book, but also the idea of showing an author writing the book, and it just inspired a whole lot of meta movie universe…

I love the idea of what would happen if J.K. Rowling met a wizard and was real. And book 4, which is what the movie’s based around, was the one that would work for it. So book 1 is being published… Mr. Lucas was clever enough to start Star Wars with Episode 4, so why not us? So there was a whole thing about… book 4, a meta universe in the sense of having fun with reinventing the clichés of what spies are all about. And then… you’ll read book 1, which I hope to actually shoot next.

There is a scene of book 1 in the movie.

What Matthew Vaughn’s Answer Reveals About Argylle

Vaughn’s answer confirms the upcoming, meta spy film is just the start of a larger multimedia universe centered around Elly and her books. His comments also seemingly reveal the meta-narrative of the books won’t come into play until book 4. This means book 1 could be an actual story about the fictional spy, establishing how Argylle is different from James Bond and other established spies before the movie even comes out.

While the content of the books is unknown, it appears the decision to start adapting them with book 4 ensures the franchise feels unique right from the start. The focus on a meta-narrative surrounding the author of a book series guarantees a film that doesn’t feel like previous spy stories. It also hints at a much larger narrative that can be explored in future media.

Though it’s unconfirmed, it’s possible the first three books in the series will be about the titular spy character. While readers won’t get to see Cavill’s unique hairstyle from Argylle on the page, they might still be able to experience a less meta version of the character. If this is the case, then the franchise will be able to appeal to those who enjoy spy tropes, and those who like seeing them turned upside down.

Source: Josh Horowitz/YouTube