‘Archer’: This ‘Kingsman’ Crossover with Taron Egerton Marked the Show’s First London Trip

Season 12 of FX’s comedy spy show Archer saw the titular character head to London in episode 3, “London Time.” However, this actually does not mark the first time the American spy traveled across the pond. That goes to the crossover short “That Time Archer Met Kingsman” during the promotional time for Kingsman: The Golden Circle starring Taron Egerton.

‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’ and Taron Egerton branched out from their comic origins

The unexpected crossover came at Fox’s Kingsman: The Golden Circle panel at the 2017 Comic-Con.

IndieWire says that “‘a mashup of an American spy spoof and a British secret agent graphic novel/film franchise’ wasn’t exactly on anyone’s anticipated list of panel surprises.”

While Kingsman: The Secret Service, starring Taron Egerton and Samuel L. Jackson, was based on a graphic novel by the same name, its sequel was not.

At the time of filming, Kingsman had no sequel.

The graphic novel sequel actually saw a release the same month as the film. However, the comic followed a completely different storyline and held the title The Red Diamond.

The crossover with FX’s Archer only widened the divide between the graphic novel and film franchises.

Taron Egerton and the world’s greatest spy in London

The short began with an animated Eggsy, voiced by Taron Egerton, on the run. Leaping over rooftops and down back alleys, he headed for the Kingsman Tailor Shop.

Combining Archer’s impressively fluid animation style and slow-motion action shots native to the Kingsman films, the mashup blew fans away.

Upon finding Sterling Archer had haphazardly wandered into the Tailor Shop, Eggsy questions him. However, in usual Archer fashion, he’s more concerned with getting some fancy new wear.

Then short leads to them in a stand-off, and Eggsy challenges Archer to a drinking competition.

Any Archer could tell you that out-drinking H. Jon Benjamin’s Sterling Archer is next to impossible.

Eggsy planned to tamper with Archer’s drink, but the American spy drained the container before he could.

Fans loved the interaction, with several voicing they wished the crossover was a full episode. The classy British agent and irreverent American ‘world’s greatest spy’ made for a hilarious dynamic.

Sadly, it ended all too quickly.

Sterling Archer’s return to London

At the time of the crossover, Archer wrapped up season 8, which saw the titular spy in a Film Noir setting. Four seasons later, the spy finally returned to the UK, this time with the rest of his team.

With his mother and boss, Jessica Walter’s Malory Archer taking point and Aisha Tyler’s Lana Kane by his side, their mission quickly went off the rails.

As usual.

If Archer and Taron Egerton’s Eggsy had met on friendlier terms back then, the world’s greatest spy could have called in some stylish backup.

The brief glimpse at a fun crossover lingered on fans’ minds, and many still hope one day to see a proper full crossover between spies dressed to the nines.