Argylle Trailer is Here, Plus A Fake Author and Book?
How the new spy thriller movie, Argylle starring Bryce Dallas Howard and Henry Cavill, used spy tradecraft to fool us all. Here is the story of a fake author and a book that never was...
Argylle, the spy thriller starring Bryce Dallas Howard and Henry Cavill, has the first full trailer released. The film has targeted February 2nd 2024 for theatrical release while the film will also receive a streaming release on Apple TV afterwards.
What makes Argylle so special?
This is the first film in a proposed trilogy. However, that is not all that special these days. If you are unfamiliar with the movie here is the recap. Bryce Dallas Howard and Henry Cavill star in the film that is based on a book to be published in the near future by new author Elly Conway.
A lot of movies or TV shows are based on books. ‘The Terminal List’, ‘The Gray Man’, even James Bond, Jason Bourne, and Jack Ryan all are based on or inspired by books. So… what makes Argylle so special?
What if I told you this film has deception written all over it? The hypothesis is that there is no “soon to be published” novel and there is no author by the name of Elly Conway. Well at least not a “real” author by that name.
For the full recap of the theories about the Argylle movie, click here to read more!
We finally have our confirmation of who Elly Conway is and the misdirection of the movie.
Author Elly Conway… or is it Bryce?
Elly (or Ellie) Conway is the best selling novelist you’ve never heard of… yet. The reason you haven’t heard of her is simply because Elly Conway is merely a figment of the imagination. Well not our imaginations, instead the sleuthy imaginations of Director Matthew Vaughn and writer/actor Jason Fuchs. Elly Conway is the author character that will be played by Bryce Dallas Howard. Vaughn and Fuchs helped craft this fake author and book to reel us in. Even going as far to have Amazon product placeholders and an author profile on the Penguin publisher’s website.
To recap and provide you with “Eyes Only” intel… Elly Conway is not a real author and neither is the Arylle book in which this film is allegedly based upon. Bryce Dallas Howard stars as Elly Conway, a best selling author who pens the Argylle spy thrillers in the film. She seemingly gets wrapped up in a globe trotting thriller that starts to blur her reality and the fiction world of her novels.
Trailer:
Synopsis:
Bryce Dallas Howard (Jurassic World franchise) is Elly Conway, the reclusive author of a series of best-selling espionage novels, whose idea of bliss is a night at home with her computer and her cat, Alfie. But when the plots of Elly’s fictional books—which center on secret agent Argylle and his mission to unravel a global spy syndicate—begin to mirror the covert actions of a real-life spy organization, quiet evenings at home become a thing of the past.
Accompanied by Aiden (Sam Rockwell), a cat-allergic spy, Elly (carrying Alfie in her backpack) races across the world to stay one step ahead of the killers as the line between Elly’s fictional world and her real one begins to blur.
Star-Studded Spy Affair…
The movie has a star-studded cast comprised of Bryce Dallas Howard, Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, John Cena, Samuel L. Jackson, among several others. Directed by Matthew Vaughn, who is no stranger from spy films (Kingsman series), is helming the action while Jason Fuchs wrote the screenplay and also appears in the film.
Sneaky Writer and Director…
Thinking we are getting a standard spy flick starring Henry Cavill and based on a novel by Elly Conway, instead Director Matthew Vaughn and writer Jason Fuchs crafted a real life spy game for all of us to be pulled into. Talk about building the ultimate “legend”, a movie character crossing over to the real world to mimic the very movie they have created. For the record, a “legend” is an alias and persona created that a spy in the field would use as cover.
The duo went the lengths of working with the publisher Penguin and creating product listings on Amazon. Clues were left and allowed us to piece this mystery together. From the varying book synopses, the lack of personal information or photos of the author, to even an Instagram profile for Elly Conway with a single account they followed. Who was that lone account? Bryce Dallas Howard herself!
Vaughn and Fuchs have embraced their inner spy to craft a thrilling and unique spy tale that utilized trickery and its own spycraft to run a diversion or perhaps brilliant marketing and give us a fun adventure while we anxiously await the release.
Argylle releases February 2nd, 2024! What did you think of this marketing stunt? Also the book listings are still active… will there be some sort of book/product tie in? Feel free to comment below and subscribe for more updates!
