When superspy Napoleon Solo returns to the big screen in Guy Ritchie’s The Man From U.N.C.L.E., one of the villains he will be squaring off against will be Elizabeth Debicki. Variety is reporting that the Great Gatsby actress is joining the cast in what they describe as “some sort of femme fatale role.” The trade is also reporting that Debicki beat out the likes of Rose Byrne and Charlize Theron for the role.
Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer have already been set to star as Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin, agents for the United Network Command for Law Enforcement. The movie is based on the classic 1960s spy series that starred Robert Vaughn and David McCallum battling the evil machinations of the organization known only as THRUSH.
A Man From U.N.C.L.E. film has been in some form of development or another for close to two decades at this point. Most recently, the project was set up with Steven Soderbergh set to direct and George Clooney set to star. Clooney departed when a neck and back operation left him not fit for the physicality of the role. Soderbergh departed soon afterwards. After Guy Ritchie signed on to direct, Tom Cruise was attached to star as Napoleon Solo, but dropped out in May. The studio quickly plugged Cavill into the role.
Ritchie is eyeing a September start for the film.
