Director Matthew Vaughn responds to rumours Taylor Swift was secret author behind Argylle
British director Matthew Vaughn has dispelled online rumours that Taylor Swift was behind the pseudonym Elly Conway – the author of the novel connected to his new film Argylle.
The film sees its protagonist Elly Conway, played by Bryce Dallas Howard, thrown into the world of espionage when she meets real spy Aiden, played by Sam Rockwell, on a train.
Argylle also stars Henry Cavill, Dua Lipa, John Cena, Bryan Cranston, Ariana DeBose and Catherine O’Hara.
On Friday – the day of Argylle’s release in cinemas – The Telegraph revealed the real writers behind the novel – Terry Hayes and Tammy Cohen.
Before filming for the production got under way, Vaughn asked Hayes to write a companion novel for the film – and soon Cohen was also brought on board.
“What was crazy is my daughter wouldn’t believe me,” Vaughn says about the Taylor Swift rumours.
The Kick-Ass director tells Sky News he spoke out at the first opportunity he got to quash the rumours, explaining he “didn’t want a bunch of Swifties or Taylor Swift thinking we were jumping on the bandwagon of her fame”.
Taylor Swift wasn’t the author – but she was an inspiration. Pic: AP
Although the singer didn’t write the novel, she has had a big influence on the film itself.
Vaughn’s family cat, named Chip, stars in Argylle as Alfie – a decision that the director says turned him into a “cat handler” for the entire production.
The Scottish Fold cat belongs to the filmmaker’s daughter, who is a huge fan of Taylor Swift and chose the animal after seeing the star had a similar pet.
The decision to use the cat backpack was also inspired by the 34-year-old singer-songwriter – Vaughn saw her use a cat bag in her Miss Americana documentary.
Following the film’s world premiere in London, Vaughn’s wife Claudia Schiffer received backlash online for taking Chip to Leicester Square in London.
Charities Blue Cross and Cats Protection condemned the use of the type of cat carrier and warned people of the “serious health complications” associated with the breed.
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Claudia Schiffer with Chip at the premiere. Pic: Reuters
‘There’s no such thing as an acting cat’
The 52-year-old director says he didn’t know what he was getting himself in for when he replaced the “acting cat” on the first day with his family pet.
“I can just tell you, there’s no such thing as an acting cat. It was an expensive non-acting cat.”
Vaughn says in addition to directing the star-studded line-up, he was responsible for Chip’s food, travel arrangements and litter box.
“I think he was so relaxed because I was there with him, always right next to the camera,” he explains.
Vaughn reveals his daughter is a Swiftie. Pic: NetStorage
During press interviews about the film, its star Bryce Dallas Howard said the production revolved around ensuring Chip was comfortable.
“When you’re working with an animal, the same exact thing when you’re working with a young person, the priority is their safety.”
She explained that a life-like stuffed version of the animal was used for any action sequences or moments of high movement.
“Chip is Matthew and Claudia’s cat. This is a cat that is very important to them, part of their family,” she said.
The Jurassic World star added that the director would shoot around Chip’s naptime so that the animal’s routine wasn’t interrupted by cameras.
Argylle is in cinemas now and will stream globally on Apple TV+.
A judge has warned Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s lawyers to stop publicly discussing their competing lawsuits.
Both actors – who co-starred in 2024’s It Ends With Us – have filed lawsuits against each other following an initial legal complaint from Lively.
The 37-year-old accused Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of the film – and an alleged subsequent plan to damage her reputation.
Baldoni then sued Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of hijacking both the production and marketing of the film, as well as allegedly attempting to smear him and others who worked on the production through false allegations.
New York district court judge Lewis J Liman has scheduled a trial date combining the two claims for March 2026 – but warned both parties on Monday that their comments to the media could impact their cases.
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Why is Blake Lively suing Justin Baldoni?
Lively’s lawyer Michael Gottlieb complained that Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman violated professional ethics rules for lawyers by accusing the actress of “bullying” in People magazine.
He told a hearing at Manhattan federal court that “it’s very hard to un-ring the bell” and argued such statements could taint a jury pool.
But Mr Freedman complained “this has not been a one-way street”, and claimed his comments to the magazine and on a podcast were a response to a New York Times article from 21 December that “completely devastated” Baldoni.
Judge Liman has now adopted a state rule barring most out-of-court statements that could affect a case’s outcome – with an exception to protect clients from prejudicial adverse publicity. Neither lawyer objected.
Lively’s legal team have previously accused Mr Freedman in a court filing of trying to influence potential jurors by creating a website to release selected documents and communications between her and Baldoni.
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In late December, Lively sued Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios and others in New York for sexual harassment and attacks on her reputation, asking for unspecified damages.
Baldoni then filed his lawsuit in January, accusing Lively and her husband, Deadpool star and Wrexham FC co-owner Reynolds, of defamation and extortion. He is seeking at least $400m (£321m) in damages.
The actor also sued The New York Times newspaper for libel after it published allegations about him.
Lively starred in the 2005 film The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants before rising to fame in the TV series Gossip Girl from 2007 to 2012. She is also known for films including The Town and The Shallows.
Baldoni is known for the TV comedy series Jane The Virgin and for directing the 2019 film Five Feet Apart. He also wrote Man Enough – a book pushing back against traditional notions of masculinity.
Actor and comedian Brian Murphy has died aged 92.
Best known for his role in the 1970s sitcoms Man About The House and George And Mildred, news of his passing was shared by his wife Hi-de-Hi! actress Linda Regan.
Posting a picture of her kissing her husband, she said: “My love for you will never die. RIP sweetheart.”
Brian Murphy. Pic:Jonathan Hordle/Shutterstock
Murphy first came to prominence playing landlord George Roper in Man About The House, starring alongside the late Yootha Joyce.
The show began in 1973 and was considered controversial for the time because it featured two single women living with a man.
When it ended in 1976, Murphy and Joyce starred in the spin-off, George And Mildred, which ran for five series until 1979.
He also starred as Alvin Smedley in Last Of The Summer Wine.
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Brian Murphy and Yootha Joyce at Heathrow Airport leaving for New Zealand for a ten-week tour of the stage version of their show.
Pic: PA
Brian Murphy and Yootha Joyce in George And Mildred.
Pic: ITV/Shutterstock
Born on the Isle of Wight, Murphy was a member of the Theatre Workshop, founded by Joan Littlewood, and was a jobbing actor before appearing in TV shows including Z-Cars.
In 1993, he starred in the first major stage version of the HG Wells science fiction classic The Invisible Man.
More recently, Murphy appeared in TV shows including the BBC’s Holby City and ITV’s Benidorm.
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