Henry Cavill’s setback
“Argylle” was the forgettable bombshell of Henry Cavill’s career. The role of the spy is rigid, dry and not even related to the main plot.
After two weeks of release, Argylle (Vietnamese title: Argylle super spy) only grossed $ 77.5 million worldwide, of which $ 37.4 million came from the North American market. This is a disappointing number for an action movie with a budget of $ 200 million, according to IMDb.
Not only considered a box office disaster, director Matthew Vaughn’s work in the eyes of experts is also a forgettable bombshell both in terms of content and script. The film also saw Henry Cavill’s slide on the path to career development.
Rigid roles
According to writer Louis Chilton, the 3-star review in The Independent is still “light-handed” compared to many critics in general. For example, Insider even called Argylle “unbearably complacent,” calling the 139-minute film “extremely empty.”
Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, Empire and Vanity Fair all agree that the talent of the cast is wasted, especially Henry Cavill. “Appearing with a gravity-defying Action Man hairstyle and an ugly jacket, Secret Service Argylle — the character played by Henry — is just the embodiment of the loose idea of super-spies like James Bond,” The Independent reports.
For the past two years, Cavill has been considered a possible successor to the role of agent 007 from Daniel Craig. Without waiting long, the 41-year-old actor soon turned into a spy but in the disaster version Argylle – a rigid, dry spy and not even related to the main plot.
Cavill’s portrayal of the fictional super spy is even more criticized for its lack of depth and caricature than its fully developed character. Despite his extensive appearances in promotional activities, he did not have much acting land on film.
A scene of Henry Cavill and Dua Lipa in Argylle. They have little acting land, only used by the producer for the purpose of promoting the film. Photo: THP.
A scene of Henry Cavill and Dua Lipa in Argylle. They have little acting land, only used by the producer for the purpose of promoting the film. Photo: THP.
Argylle hits theaters at a time when Cavill struggles to find the right direction after a series of previous hit roles. Already famous before the 2010s for The Tudors and making his mark as Superman in Man of Steel, or starring in the hit fantasy series The Witcher, Cavill now needs a role impressive enough to put his career back on track.
Fans speculated about Cavill stepping down from his role as the white-haired Geralt in The Witcher to wait and devote himself to a new Superman sequel. However, in late 2022, the actor unexpectedly revealed he was removed from the iconic role following DC’s strategic overhaul.
“Henry is at the stage where he needs to really prove his acting abilities if he wants to survive as a Hollywood A-lister. Unfortunately, Argylle didn’t help him get there,” commented writer Louis Chilton.
The Independent suggested that it would be unfair to hold Cavill accountable for Argylle’s failures. However, it is impossible to avoid the fact that this work has somewhat made his career precarious.
New movies that promise to shine
Henry Cavill’s case is reminiscent of Chris Evans. Both struggled on their journey to reinvent themselves after parting ways as superheroes. But if “Captain America” fails back-to-back with the controversial series, according to SCreenrant, Henry Cavill has the potential to turn the tide.
On May 4, war film The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare will be released. Based on the true story of the British Special Action Service (SOE) set up during World War II, Cavill stars Gus March-Phillips, the officer who helped found the legendary SAS regiment.
Under the molding hands of Guy Ritchie – the director who has achieved commercial success with blockbusters Sherlock Holmes, U.N.C.L.E, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword and Aladdin – The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare promises thrilling content, really a work worth looking forward to.
And while Argylle gave Cavill a forgettable start to 2024, subsequent titles featuring him will shine, observers insist.
Audiences hope the careers of Henry Cavill and Chris Evans both take off after their failed roles. Photo: Pinterest.
Cavill’s other new projects are in the process of taking shape. He is scheduled to star in a reboot of the Highlander series and Warhammer 40,000, which is an adaptation of a video game produced by Amazon Studios. These films were a far cry from the spy genre that had plagued Cavill before.
In particular, Highlander is a long-loved franchise and is commented in accordance with the actor’s abilities. Warhammer 40,000 is a project filled with Cavill’s personal passion.
Screenrant predicted: “The actor has had great success with genres inspired by fantasy genres like the DCEU’s or The Witcher. Now Warhammer and Highlander can both help him overcome the frustration caused by Argylle.”
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