While Henry Cavill missed out on playing James Bond back in Casino Royale, a decade later, he did get to channel his inner Sean Connery in 2015’s The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Based on the ’60s American TV spy series, the retro flashy spy thriller, starring Cavill and Armie Hammer, has a lot more to offer than just being a 2-hour fun action comedy.
Filled with gay innuendoes, the bond between Cavill’s Napolean Solo and Hammer’s Illya Kuryakin propels beyond bromance, even though it’s never explicit. And surprisingly, Per Cavill, this wasn’t deliberate on their part.
The Queer Energy Exuding From The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Was Unintended
From exuding queer energy both narratively and thematically, Guy Ritchie’s spy thriller, like some of his other works such as RocknRolla, had an unmistakable homoerotic appeal to it. But interestingly, the gay subtext between the two main leads wasn’t deliberate on their part, per Henry Cavill. However, it didn’t stop them from embracing the audiences’ perception of it, as Cavill explained they “aren’t fearful of coming across as homosexual” as straight individuals. He told The Guardian:
“It’s not deliberate. It isn’t like we said, ‘Let’s gay it up a bit.’ But two male leads, a buddy movie – it’s going to happen. If it plays that way, I think it’s because Armie, Guy and myself are comfortable with our sexuality, so we’re not fearful of coming across as homosexual. A lot of straight guys would be like, ‘Oh, that’s a bit gay, I’m not doing that.’ But I’ll happily stand with my arm around my best mate in a pub. Not a problem.”
But despite the intoxicating chemistry between Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer elevating the viewing experience, the movie failed to make it big following stiff competition at the box office.
Tom Cruise’s Exit Made Room for Henry Cavill to Star in the Guy Ritchie Thriller
Prior to Henry Cavill landing the role of Napolean solo, several A-listers were eyed to star in Guy Ritichie’s spy thriller, with the most prominent one being Tom Cruise. However, following the Top Gun Star’s commitment to Mission: Impossible 5, which would debut around the same time frame as the Cavill-led thriller, he reportedly backed out, creating room for the MOS Star.
While The Man from U.N.C.L.E.‘s box-office reception was less than stellar on its initial outing, making $107 million from an approximately $75 million budget, the years since then have been kind to it. And with Cavill reuniting with Guy Ritchie for The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare and rumors of a sequel to the spy action being in development, fans will hope they get to see Napolean Solo in action once again.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is available to stream on Apple TV.
