Apple buys Kingsman director's new spy film Argyle, with Heng Chao and Zhao Xi Na joining

Another major movie deal for Apple is about to be completed. Apple Original Films is finalizing the acquisition of global rights to Argylle, the next film to be directed by Kingsman film director Matthew Vaughn and produced at his MARV Studios. The deal for a single film is reportedly close to $200 million, and Apple hopes the film can become a film franchise like 007.

Based on the upcoming spy novel of the same name by author Ellie Conway, the film follows the world’s greatest spy as he embarks on a globetrotting adventure. Conway’s debut thriller is scheduled to be released in 2022 by Transworld Publishers Ltd, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

The two sides finalized the deal for Argyle on Wednesday, with director Vaughn saying he was "thrilled to be working with Apple to bring the most compelling spy thriller I've ever read to the only streaming platform that can create a film series of this scale and quality for a global audience."

"Argyle" stars Bryan Cranston (Old White in "Breaking Bad"), Samuel L. Jackson (Commissioner Fury in "The Avengers"), Henry Cavill (Superman in "Man of Steel"), Sam Rockwell, Bryce Dallas Howard, Catherine O'Hara and John Cena (Zhao Xina).