The U.N.C.L.E. movie’s `Easter eggs’

Napoleon Solo, past and present

As filming of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. movie continued this week in Italy, it seems as if the film has “Easter eggs” for fans of the original 1964-68 series.

The term “Easter Eggs” could be heard this summer when Warner Bros.’s Man of Steel, which starred Henry Cavill, came out. There were references to other DC Comics characters, such as a Wayne Enterprises sign on a satellite or refernces to references to Lexcorp, the conglomerate run by Lex Luthor. The idea is provide fans of the source material a little something extra while (the studio hopes) providing a movie that appeals to a broader audience.

The U.N.C.L.E. movie may be doing something similar.

Cavill, who’s playing the Napoleon Solo role originated by Robert Vaughn, was photographed in a black outfit, including a black jacket, apparently as part of a sequence where U.N.C.L.E.’s ace sneaking about. The black jacket, shirt and pants looks similar to outfits Vaughn wore in episodes of the series such as The Quadripartite Affair and The Dippy Blonde Affair.

Cavill’s Solo, complete with pinkie ring

Earlier in the week, Cavill was photographed in a suit and wearing a pinkie ring. Such as ring was also a trademark of the original Solo. Now, Cavill has been photographed with a pinkie ring at other times, as can seen on the home page of the DAILYCAVILL.COM fan Web site. So it may just be coincidence.

On the other hand, Armie Hammer, who plays Illya Kuryakin, the role originated by David McCallum, has been seen seen in a turtleneck, which was one of the trademarks of McCullum/Kuryakin.

Even assuming all of these are intentional “Easter eggs,” that doesn’t mean director Guy Ritchie won’t put his own spin on the material. The guess here is he will, and in ways that remain to be seen.

What’s more, Man of Steel, despite its “Easter eggs,” made some major adjustments to the Superman mythos, including the Clark Kent-Lois Lane relationship and having the hero take the life of villain General Zod whereupon the comic book Superman once took a vow to never kill. The repercussions of the latter is supposed to be explored in the Superman-Batman film that Cavill will film in 2014.

As for the U.N.C.L.E. movie, one request. No clogs for Solo as an “Easter egg,” please.