Matthew Vaughn’s new film Argyle is based on a novel that has just been released. So far so good, as his previous feature films have been more or less loosely inspired by comics. The problem is that the book belongs to Eli Conway.
Or the name of a character played by Bryce Dallas Howard in Argylle: A spy novelist who discovers that his writings have implications for the world of secret agents. It’s a bit like J.K. Rowling’s meeting with a real magician, as Matthew Vaughn likes to say, is introducing the new baby.
What if Ellie Conway was Taylor Swift?
However and despite the reports Twitter/X and Instagram To look fake, Ellie Conway doesn’t exist. And this cover of the novel will not help us, because the section dedicated to it only offers us a silhouette as a photograph. It was enough to set off the Internet, which thinks it has found the culprit: Taylor Swift herself.
Because Bryce Dallas Howard’s red hair reminds us of the singer’s wig from the music video “everything is fine”. And above all, the porthole bag in which Ellie carries her cat in the film is very similar to what the singing star carries on her back in the documentary Miss Americana.
of a cat that, at worst, is a Scottish fold in a feature film. The same breed—you probably guessed how this paragraph started—as Taylor Swift’s two cats. Which is too many coincidences and clues to keep the latter from falling behind Argyll’s novels.
Taylor Swift, Argyll: Coincidence, Influence or Real Link?
“I think it’s crazy”
Which Matthew Waugh categorically denies. Because we asked him to help us solve a case almost more complicated than his own movie: “There is a secret, yes”He answers us. “The book exists and it’s written by Ellie Conway. People wonder if it exists and I tell them the book can’t be written by itself. But it’s not by Taylor Swift and people are sure, and I think that’s crazy.”
“It shows how rumors can be amplified by the internet and social networks. Even my daughter is convinced of it and wants to meet her. But it’s not her, you have to believe me. There is a real Ellie Conway and only time will tell. Wait a few weeks and you’ll find out. “ So we can expect an announcement soon after the release of the film.
According to The Washington Post, joining the English astronomer mentioned in the credits, Ellie Conway would actually be British Tammy Cohen, to whom we owe several spy novels, which is pretty good. And whose agent, Felicity Blunt, is none other than the wife of Stanley Tucci, who starred in Matthew Vaughn’s The King’s Man.
Taylor Swift, Tammy Cohen… or Matthew Vaughn himself?
But there is another, simpler hypothesis. Will he be the director himself? Officially, Matthew Vaughn has read the first book, Apple has bought the rights for around $200 million, and Jason Fuchs has written the screenplay… which is based on the fourth volume to be published, and the previous one will follow the stories written by the movie. Ellie Conway before her life changes (when I tell you the story is complicated).
This much scrutiny of a debut novel by an unknown author is more than a gamble, even with the approval of the very pop Matthew Vaughn, who describes the saga as “The most incredible spy franchise since Ian Fleming“ on dust jacket. Selling yourself better? The director at our mic seems to know it’s not Taylor Swift and confirms that Ellie’s true identity will soon be revealed as if she were in on the secret of the gods.
And it will not be excluded. Because Kingsman is based on a comic he came up with in discussions with Kick-Ass creator Mark Millar. Thus, Argylle could be an extension of this method and the starting point of a multimedia franchise where the books will be part of both the promotion and the narrative in a broad sense that will unfold on and off the screen.
It’s not Taylor Swift who wrote the book, believe me. There is a real Ellie Conway and only time will tell. Wait a few weeks and you’ll find out
This would be all the more plausible since the first volume is being released alongside the feature film and Matthew Vaughn already knows the content of the next three. It could also be Jane Goldman, her co-writer on X-Men The Beginning, Kick-Ass and Kingsman. From Dua Lipa (why not?), another pop star who has a small role in the film. Or just a marketing strategy adapted to our times and need for virality, but that would be more disappointing.
If we get an answer in the coming weeks (days?), that means we’ll have a fix soon, and the countdown is on. And maybe you’ll see hints in the movie, in theaters this Wednesday, January 31st.
Matthew Vaughn’s comments collected by Maximilien Pierret in London on 22 January 2024
Source: Allocine

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.