The rumor that Taylor Swift is a secret spy novelist has been shut down.
The singer’s, 34, fans have been speculating that she is the mystery author who penned Argylle, a spy novel that’s being turned into a movie starring Bryce Dallas Howard, Dua Lipa and Henry Cavill.
However, the film’s director, Matthew Vaughn, denied that claim that the hitmaker found time between her Eras tour and attending boyfriend Travis Kelce’s games to pen a novel, though he did confirm she indirectly inspired the upcoming movie.
‘There is a real book … and it’s a really good book. And there is an Elly Conway who wrote the book, but it’s not Taylor Swift,’ he clarified in a new interview with Rolling Stone.
‘I did read the conspiracies and I was like, wow, they don’t leave a stone unturned! But it’s not Taylor Swift. She definitely didn’t write the book.’
The rumor that Taylor Swift, 34, is a secret spy novelist has been shut down, after fans have been speculating that she is the mystery author who penned Argylle
‘And I say that because I imagine Taylor Swift has a load of people trying to jump on her bandwagon left, right, and center, and I don’t want to be a part of that club.’
Matthew did admit that the superstar inadvertently inspired the film.
Taylor is the proud owner of two Scottish Fold cats – the same breed of cat that is featured in the film.
Matthew revealed that the cat appeared in the movie because his family bought it after being inspired by Taylor’s pets.
‘I got home one day, it was Christmas, and I was like, “What the f**k is that noise?” And I’m running around the house and I hear a noise, and the kids had seen a Taylor Swift documentary [Miss Americana] and there was a Scottish Fold in that, and they’d persuaded my wife, Claudia [Schiffer], to get them the kitten for Christmas,’ he revealed.
‘It was bought without my permission and hidden from me.’
Matthew then clarified that they had originally cast another cat actor, but he simply didn’t work out, prompting him to ask his daughter whether he could borrow her cat, Chip, for the role.
‘That first day of filming with the cat we had — this actor cat — wasn’t really working out, and I literally went to my daughter’s bedroom, because the cat sleeps with her, and I said, “Look, I’m gonna borrow the cat.” And she went, “Fine.”
The novel Argylle was released on January 9 by a pseudonymous author with the pen name Elly Conway, and has already been turned into a movie starring Dua Lipa and Henry Cavill
The film’s director, Matthew Vaughn, denied that claim that the singer penned the book, though he did confirm she indirectly inspired the upcoming movie; He is pictured in 2023
‘There is a real book … and it’s a really good book. And there is an Elly Conway who wrote the book, but it’s not Taylor Swift,’ he clarified in a new interview with Rolling Stone
Though she did not write the book, Taylor is the proud owner of two Scottish Fold cats – the same breed of cat that is featured in the film. Matthew revealed that the cat appeared in the movie because his family bought it after being inspired by Taylor’s pets
Left, Taylor Swift carrying her cat in the Miss Americana film. Right: the promotional poster for Argylle
‘I don’t think she realized it meant for three months. It was odd because he rode to work with me every morning, shared my trailer. But he was great. And he seemed to enjoy it as well. He was a natural. The nepo cat.’
The hotly-anticipated film is set for release on February 2, 2024.
The plot of the book, said to ‘reinvent the spy genre’, follows the introverted spy novelist called Elly Conway (played by Bryce Dallas Howard) who is drawn into the real world of espionage when the plots of her books get a little too close to the activities of a sinister underground syndicate.
It stars Henry Cavill as the lead Agent Argylle opposite femme fatale Dua Lipa in her feature length acting debut. Apple Original Films has reportedly paid an eye-watering $200 million for it.
The film was first announced in June 2021, with a script adapted from the novel before it was even published.
‘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,’ Vaughn gushed.
But surprisingly little has been shared about Elly – whose name has been spelled interchangeably Ellie and Elly in promotional material.
On the Penguin website, Elly’s bio simply reads: ‘She lives in the United States and is currently working on the next instalment in the series’.
Swift is known for leaving clues for her fans in her work, leading many to believe she was hinting she is Elly Conway. In one Instagram snap she wore a jumper with Conway written on it
Surprisingly little has been shared about Elly – whose name has been spelled interchangeably Ellie and Elly in promotional material
Elly’s Instagram account is empty – she only follows one person – her agent Eric Reid
The hotly-anticipated film is set for release on February 2, 2024
Elly’s Instagram account is empty – she only follows one person – her agent Eric Reid.
Swift is known for leaving ‘Easter eggs’ and clues for her fans in her work, leading many to believe she was hinting that she is Elly Conway.
Fans pointed out the resemble of the cat featured in the film to Taylor’s cats.
Ahead of her record-breaking Eras tour, Taylor wore a jumper with ‘Conway Recording Studios’ written on it.
Conway is played in the film by a red haired author. In Taylor’s All Too Well short film, she plays a red haired author.
Perhaps the most on the nose, Taylor has often worn argyle over the years – and even sold merch with argyle on.