Argylle: Does the author of Henry Cavill’s spy thriller even exist?

Matthew Vaughn’s upcoming movie Argylle stars Henry Cavill as the world’s greatest spy as he’s caught up in a globe-trotting adventure. The movie is based on the as-yet-unpublished novel by first-time novelist Elly Conway, with Apple reportedly paying $200 million for the rights. That’s certainly not a small chunk of change, but there seems to be a little confusion regarding who Elly Conway is and if the Argylle author even exists.

A new report from THR dives into the mystery of Elly Conway, who doesn’t seem to have much of an online presence, something largely unheard of in this day and age. When you search her name online, you’ll find that most articles/images bring up references to a fictional character on Neighbors, an Australian soap opera. The author’s Instagram account is also vacant, and her extremely short bio on Penguin simply reads, “Elly Conway is the author of the heavily anticipated debut thriller, Argylle. She lives in the United States and is currently working on the next instalment in the series.” THR contacted the publishing company behind Argylle as well as Conway’s agent, but the conversation ended abruptly once questions about Conway were raised. Very mysterious. Either Elly Conway is the pen name of someone else, or she’s simply one of the more secretive people on the planet.

Argylle was originally supposed to be published in just two weeks but was later pushed back to March 30, 2023. The feature-film adaptation is currently in post-production, and while it doesn’t have an official release yet, it’s possible the movie could come out before the book on which it’s based. When the project was first announced, director Matthew Vaughn said, “When I read this early draft manuscript I felt it was the most incredible and original spy franchise since Ian Fleming’s books of the 50s. This is going to reinvent the spy genre.” Jason Fuchs (Wonder Woman) penned the adaptation of Argylle. In addition to Henry Cavill, the movie also stars Sam Rockwell, Bryce Dallas Howard, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, John Cena and Samuel L. Jackson. Pop star Dua Lipa will be making her screen debut on the film as well as providing original music for the title track and score.

What are your thoughts on the mystery of the Argylle author?