“Argylle”
Spy comedy with Henry Cavill is having a bad time at the box office
False start for Henry Cavill and “Argylle”.
© Universal Pictures
“Argylle” disappoints at the box office. Now the future of the spy saga with Henry Cavill is up in the air.
Apple’s attempt to establish an agent franchise with “Argylle” may have already failed. The new film by “Kingsman” maker Matthew Vaughn (52) is disappointing at its theatrical release. In the In the USA, “Argylle” only grossed $18 million. There are 35.5 million worldwide. Not enough with a budget of $200 million and a star cast including Henry “The Witcher” Cavill (40), “Breaking Bad” star Bryan Cranston (67) and singer Dua Lipa (28).
“Argylle” doesn’t even make it onto the podium in Germany
In the USA, “Argylle” tops the box office charts, but without any significant competition. In Germany, the spy comedy doesn’t even make it into the top 3. “Argylle” is in fourth place, behind “Where the Lie Falls”, “A Million Minutes” and “Ella and the Black Jaguar” – anything but nominal high-profile stars .
The reviews for the spy spectacle are also modest. On the review collection site “Rotten Tomatoes,” “Argylle” has an average of just 35 percent positive ratings. The audience treated the film much more mildly, with 71 percent positive feedback.
Franchise attempt already failed?
“Argylle” is Apple Studios’ ambitious attempt at starting a franchise. A series that is neither based on a popular book series nor an already established character. A rarity these days.
The makers around Matthew Vaughan launched a PR stunt to promote their film. It was said that it was based on the novel by a certain Elly Conway. She is the main character of “Argylle”, played by “Jurassic World” star Bryce Dallas Howard (42). The events in her book are similar to real espionage activities, which is why Elly Conway finds herself in the firing line of agents.
A wild fan theory circulated in advance that Taylor Swift was behind the pseudonym Elly Conway and had written the novel. The so-called Argylle check pattern that runs through the film and a Scottish Fold cat that plays a role in it served as clues. Swift once wore an Argyle diamond sweater and owns Scottish fold cats. But even the connection to the biggest pop star of our time couldn’t help.
Matthew Vaughan spoke versus “Polygon” already of plans for sequels. Claudia Schiffer’s (53) husband initially wants to film the content of Elly Conway’s fictional novel, without the meta elements of “Argylle”. After that there will be a sequel.