Argylle (2024)

Detailed Summary

Elly Conway’s Quiet Life Upends

Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard) is a reclusive, bestselling spy novelist. Her fictional hero, Agent Argylle (Henry Cavill), stars in sequences inspired by her imagination. Her quiet world gets shaken when her latest book seems to predict real-world events—and dangerous spies begin to emerge.

The Real Spy Beneath the Writer

Halfway in, the story flips: Elly isn’t just the writer—she’s actually Rachel Kylle, a highly trained spy whose memories were wiped and replaced with the Elly persona. Her novels are her subliminal memories playing out.

The Division’s Machinations

The villainous “Division” used Rachel’s memories to drive her novels. Bryan Cranston’s Ritter, posing as her father, and Catherine O’Hara’s “Ruth,” manipulating her, orchestrated this brainwashing.

Turning the Tables

Rachel reclaims her identity, slyly teams up with Aidan (Sam Rockwell), and battles her handlers. Aided by Keira (Ariana DeBose), a presumed-dead ally who turns killer in deus-ex-machina fashion, she thwart The Division and transmits the MacGuffin (“Masterkey”) that exposes the conspiracy.

The Spy-Author Merge

With the threat defeated, Rachel returns to being Elly—blending her spy skills and writing life seamlessly. At a book event, Henry Cavill’s Agent Argylle shows up in the flesh, challenging her—and us—to question what’s real.

Movie Ending

Rachel reclaims her identity, defeats The Division, and reconciles her two lives. She goes public as an author again. But then—plot twist—Agent Argylle himself (Henry Cavill) appears in her real world, eyes blazing, hinting there’s a “real Argylle” out there. It’s a deliciously meta and reality-blurring moment that leaves us asking: was everything fictional, semi-fictional… or both?

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

Yes, there is a mid- or post-credits scene. It flashes back 20 years to a pub called The King’s Man—a wink at Vaughn’s Kingsman world—where a young man introduces himself as Aubrey Argylle. A title card promises “Argylle: The First Book – The Movie – coming soon”.
Matthew Vaughn confirmed this scene is deliberate world-building, teasing a spy-film universe with possibilities for prequels and crossovers.

Type of Movie

A spy action-comedy thriller with meta layers and genre-savvy humor, delivered with Vaughn’s signature punchy style.

Cast

• Bryce Dallas Howard as Elly Conway / Rachel Kylle
• Henry Cavill as Agent Argylle
• Sam Rockwell as Aidan
• Bryan Cranston as Ritter
• Catherine O’Hara as Ruth
• Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose, John Cena, Samuel L. Jackson in supporting roles

Film Music and Composer

Composer: Lorne Balfe, who scored the film’s energetic, tension-filled spy sequences.

Filming Locations

Filmed across Europe between August and December 2021. While specific cities aren’t detailed in our sources, Vaughn’s production style suggests a mix of sleek international locales and studio work to create that high-gloss, globe-trotting feel.

Awards and Nominations

• IFMCA: Lorne Balfe nominated for Best Original Score (Action/Adventure)
• Saturn Awards: Nominated for Best Action / Adventure Film
• Razzies: Bryce Dallas Howard (Worst Actress) and Ariana DeBose (Worst Supporting Actress) received nominations

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Vaughn had plotted this as the first of a trilogy, including a prequel and future crossover within a shared spy universe.

Inspirations and References

• Meta-spy genre that nods to secret-agent tropes.
• Strong tie-ins and Easter eggs linked to Vaughn’s Kingsman franchise, fueling franchise crossover speculation.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

No publicly available information on alternate endings or deleted scenes surfaced in our sources.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The film is based on a novel credited to Elly Conway—a fictitious novelist character in-universe—but in real life, the book was actually written by Terry Hayes and Tammy Cohen.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• Elly realizing she’s actually Rachel, a spy with amnesia.
• The final face-off with The Division, complete with kitten-fueled assassination of Ritter.
• Agent Argylle appearing in Elly’s real world.

Iconic Quotes

I don’t have exact lines from our sources—but the moment of Argylle’s sudden “real-world” appearance is wildly meme-worthy in its ambiguity and cheek.

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The pub The King’s Man and the shared “Statesman/King’s Man” universe hints nod to Kingsman.
• Shared actors: Samuel L. Jackson and Sofia Boutella appear in both Argylle and Kingsman films (as different characters), suggesting Vaughn’s penchant for casting favorites across his spy worlds.

Trivia

• Intended as the first film in a trilogy with a prequel already in development featuring Louis Partridge as young Argylle.
• Critics largely panned the movie as style over substance, but Vaughn insisted the film was meant as a fun, twisty ride—and many viewers enjoyed it on streaming.

Why Watch?

For those who love smart, cheeky spy thrillers with layers—multiple identity twists, genre deconstruction, and the seductive possibility of a shared spy-film universe—Argylle is a whirlwind worth riding. Just bring your wits and a flexible sense of reality.

Director’s Other Movies

• Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
• Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)
• The King’s Man (2021) — prequel in the Kingsman universe

Recommended Films for Fans

• Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
• The Long Kiss Goodnight
• Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
• Ocean’s Eleven (2001)