Argylle is a fast-paced spy thriller filled with unexpected turns at every corner. The story follows spy novelist Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard), who finds herself entangled in a real-world espionage mission. The film keeps viewers guessing, as certain characters who seem trustworthy end up being enemies, while others prove to be allies.
Even though these surprises add layers to the storyline, Argylle still delivers the intense gunfights and hand-to-hand combat sequences expected in a spy-action movie. The conclusion of Argylle is filled with multiple fast-moving events.
A high-stakes thriller where nothing is as it seems (Photo: Argylle/Apple Original Films, Marv Films, and Cloudy Productions)With an explosion of vibrant colors and chaotic CGI cat moments marking the film’s final act, keeping track of every development might not be easy. If any part of the ending seems unclear, here’s a breakdown of how things wrap up, including the meaning behind a mid-credits scene that might leave some viewers puzzled.
As the movie repeatedly states, “The bigger the spy, the bigger the lie,” but here, the focus is on uncovering nothing but the facts about how the film reaches its climax.
What Happens at the End of ‘Argylle’?
As the final moments of Argylle play out, Rachel Kylle, also known as Elly Conway, regains her deadly combat abilities. At first glance, it appears she has once again fallen under the control of her ruthless handlers, Ritter (Bryan Cranston) and Ruth (Catherine O’Hara).
To prove her loyalty, she seemingly shoots and kills her former lover, Aidan (Sam Rockwell), and her ally. However, this is all an elaborate deception. An anonymous fan of her Argylle books had earlier suggested a way to fake Aidan’s death—by shooting him near the heart but avoiding any fatal damage.
This trick works, as Aidan survives and overpowers his captors just as Kylle turns against Ritter and Ruth. Following this, Kylle and Aidan come together once more to face Ritter’s group of henchmen. A unique action sequence plays out, featuring the pair battling enemies while colorful smoke fills the scene.
Once the fight ends, they go through different sections of the oil tanker that Ritter uses as his base. Their goal is to bypass a system that prevents them from electronically transmitting incriminating evidence against Ritter to their ally, “Alfie” (Samuel L. Jackson), who is stationed at his vineyard.
Interestingly, despite their reputation in comedy projects like Malcolm in the Middle and Schitt’s Creek, the older actors playing Ritter and Ruth are no physical match for the skilled duo of Kylle and Aidan.
A Feline Plays a Critical Role
Kylle’s loyal cat, Alfie, delivers the finishing blow to Ritter by fatally scratching him. This act serves as justice, given that Ritter had physically harmed the cat on two separate occasions. However, Ruth proves to be a tougher opponent.
She wields a music box that plays a tune responsible for brainwashing Kylle into believing she is simply Elly Conway, a mild-mannered writer. As long as the melody continues, Kylle is powerless against Ruth’s commands and unable to send the evidence to “Alfie.”
Just in time, an unknown figure fully clothed in black knocks Ruth unconscious, breaking her psychological grip over Kylle.
The Truth About Henry Cavill’s Role in ‘Argylle’
With the transmission finally completed, the mysterious figure reveals their identity—it is none other than Keira (Ariana DeBose). Earlier in the film, Aidan had disclosed that Keira, a real-world counterpart of a character from Conway’s novels, was believed to have died in battle.
However, this assumption was false. Keira had managed to survive after a bullet narrowly missed her heart. Interestingly, she was the anonymous fan who had emailed Conway with the tip that helped Kylle fake Aidan’s death.
As the oil tanker erupts into flames, the trio escapes just in time. The movie then changes to a later point in time, showing Conway at a promotional event for her latest book. All seems to be going well for the heroes, but then an unexpected interruption occurs.
A man with a thick beard, a heavy Southern accent, and a curly mullet stands up in the audience to ask Conway a question. His appearance closely resembles the version of Agent Argylle (played by Henry Cavill) that Conway has always envisioned in her books.
He leaves her stunned, hinting at the possibility of a deeper mystery. The credits roll, suggesting that this revelation may be further explored in a sequel, potentially laying the groundwork for a larger franchise.
How ‘Argylle’ Connects to the ‘Kingsman’ Franchise
A mid-credits scene begins with a shot of a pub called The King’s Man, its name displayed in bright gold lettering. This immediately signals a connection between Argylle and another well-known series directed by Matthew Vaughn.
In the following scene, a younger version of Agent Argylle (played by Louis Partridge) is seen engaging in conversation with a bartender (Ben Daniels). Their discussion takes a turn that earns him the bartender’s respect.
The implication here is clear—Argylle is not just another spy but also linked to the Kingsman organization. An on-screen message then appears over a poster of the in-universe Argylle book series, reading, “Argylle Book One The Movie: Coming Soon.”
Interpreting the meaning of this scene without additional context could be challenging, as its message remains somewhat ambiguous. Vaughn later confirmed in an interview with Collider’s Steve Weintraub that the Southern-accented man from the final scene of Argylle is the “true Argylle.”
Meanwhile, the younger figure in the mid-credits scene—Aubrey Argylle—is simply an earlier version of this character. Vaughn’s statements suggest that the Argylle and Kingsman stories might exist in a shared space that he has yet to fully develop.
Although the exact form this connection will take remains uncertain, he has indicated plans for Louis Partridge’s character in the future.
The Post-Credits Scene Lays the Foundation for Agent Aubrey Argylle
One thing is certain—the mid-credits scene presents a lot of material that could be explored further. Vaughn has hinted that this sequence directly ties into a real Argylle book that was recently published. Additionally, it reinforces his ongoing fascination with tracing the origins of his film characters.
Explosive twists and chaotic cat-filled showdowns (Photo: Argylle/Apple Original Films, Marv Films, and Cloudy Productions)Just as The King’s Man (2021) provided a historical backstory for the Kingsman organization, Argylle is now attempting something similar by fleshing out its espionage-driven world. In his discussion with Steve Weintraub, Vaughn remarked that the connections become obvious once viewers put the pieces together.
He also confirmed that several characters from Argylle will return in Argylle 2, including Henry Cavill—this time sporting a mullet. Though Agent Argylle has not yet been officially named a Kingsman, the post-credits scene strongly establishes a link between the spy and the covert organization.
The fact that both films exist within the same cinematic universe suggests that a crossover between the two franchises is a possibility in the future. Even before the mid-credits sequence, the ending of Argylle left things open-ended, much like Vaughn’s previous works, such as Kick-Ass.
Looking ahead and looking back seem to be recurring themes in Vaughn’s storytelling. The conclusion of Argylle and its mid-credits scene only reinforces this pattern.
