Henry Cavill and Dua Lipa in the spy thriller Argyle

Bryan Cranston fails again as the leader of a rogue spy operation. “You don’t want to fuck with him, let’s put it that way,” Vaughn says. “He is a vile, charming and intelligent man who, if he had better values, would be the spy we would all want in our lives. But he is, dare I say, a Donald Rumsfeld or Cheney-type spy.”

Catherine O’Hara stars as the author’s mother and beta reader. “She doesn’t like talking to her agent that much. She calls her agent and he says, “Oh, this is the best book I’ve ever read.” You are amazing. This is another big success,” says Vaughn. “And my mom was like, ‘Oh, you need to change X, Y, Z.’ So mom gives tough love and helps her get through it. That’s why she’s such a good writer.”

West Side Story

Oscar winner Ariana DeBose and action star bodybuilder John Cena also appear as fictional characters from the author’s spy books. DeBose’s role remains a secret, but Cena’s role is clear: “In the life of Henry Cavill’s character, John Cena flexes his muscles. But in the movies, muscles are literally muscles. John’s hand is the size of two of my legs,” Vaughn says. “But in the real world, when you meet muscles, they look like accountants. You will never believe it. They’re strong and tough and don’t look tough, but by the time you realize they’re tough, you fall apart.”