Taylor Swift is not the author of a recently released spy novel, the director of its forthcoming film adaptation told Rolling Stone.
Matthew Vaughn, who is helming the action-comedy film Argylle, shot down an internet conspiracy theory claiming that Swift, the mega-popular singer-songwriter, is secretly Elly Conway, the pseudonymous author of the novel of the same name.
The novel, published earlier this month by Bantam, follows a troubled spy enlisted by the CIA to take on a power-seeking Russian magnate. The film adaptation boasts a star-studded cast that includes Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, and Catherine O’Hara. It is scheduled for release on Feb. 2.
The film also features a Scottish Fold cat, which is part of the reason some Swifties were convinced she wrote the novel. Swift has two of the exotic kitties (named Olivia Benson and Meredith Grey) and has been seen toting Olivia in a backpack, like Howard’s character does in the film. Fans also noted that Swift also has a fondness for argyle sweaters.
Conway’s identity remains a mystery. Her biography on Penguin Random House’s website says only, “Elly Conway is the author of the debut thriller Argylle, the inspiration for the upcoming film of the same name. She lives somewhere in the United States.”
Vaughn told Rolling Stone that his daughter told him about the theory that Swift is actually Conway.
“There is a real book…and it’s a really good book,” he said. “And there is an Elly Conway who wrote the book, but it’s not Taylor Swift. And I say that because I imagine Taylor Swift has a load of people trying to jump on her bandwagon left, right, and center, and I don’t want to be a part of that club. I did read the conspiracies and I was like, wow, they don’t leave a stone unturned! But it’s not Taylor Swift. She definitely didn’t write the book.”
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
