Despite being developed as an Apple TV+ original movie, Henry Cavill’s upcoming spy thriller Argylle has scored an official 2024 theatrical release date. Boasting an all-star cast that also includes the likes of Sam Rockwell, Bryce Dallas Howard, John Cena, Bryan Cranston and Samuel L. Jackson, Argylle will also feature singer-songwriter Dua Lipa following her acting debut in Barbie. First announced in June 2021, Apple TV+ swooped in later that year to pick up the rights in an impressive $200 million deal that is hoped to be the start of an ongoing franchise.
According to a new report from Variety, Apple has teamed with Universal Pictures to provide the upcoming film with a theatrical release date prior to its streaming debut. Now set to arrive in theaters on February 2, 2024, the date for Argylle’s subsequent streaming release has still not been announced. This latest move follows a growing trend for Apple, which has also set theatrical release dates for some of its other high-profile film projects, including Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon and Ridley Scott’s Napoleon.
Could Henry Cavill’s Argylle Be The Next Bond Franchise?
Helmed by Kingsman director Matthew Vaughn, Argylle is based on an as-yet-unpublished novel by first-time author Ellie Conway. Being adapted to the screen by Wonder Woman scribe Jason Fuchs, this latest film will see Cavill assume the role of a world-class spy suffering from amnesia who is tricked into believing that he is a best-selling novelist. While Conway’s original book is not planned to be released until November 2023, Vaughn seems to have a great deal of confidence in the material and hopes to expand the film adaptation into its own franchise.
Previously praising Conway’s manuscript as one of the best spy thrillers he’s ever read, Vaughn has likened his approach on Argylle to ‘80s action thrillers like Die Hard and Lethal Weapon. No stranger to helming adaptations of high-octane spy adventures, the director has admitted that casting Cavill in the leading role was largely influenced by the actor’s own flirtation with the James Bond franchise. Explaining that he needed someone who could play Bond, Vaughn’s thoughts immediately turned to the Man of Steel actor, who once auditioned for 007 and remains a favorite pick for the coveted role.
With a stellar ensemble cast and an action-packed premise, the buzz surrounding Argylle will only likely intensify as its new release date looms closer. Whether the film will serve to spawn the franchise that Vaughn hopes it will remains to be seen, but he already has the star power necessary to stir interest in a potential new rival to the James Bond series. Thankfully, now audiences know when they will get the chance to judge for themselves.
Source: Variety