MeTV: "11 top secret facts about 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'"

- May 25, 2018

1. Like James Bond, Napoleon Solo and April Dancer were the brainchildren of Ian Fleming.

The show's creator, Norman Felton, enlisted erstwhile Navel Intelligence officer and novelist Fleming to come up with characters and premises for The Man from U.N.C.L.E. The Bond author dreamt up Napoleon Solo and April Dancer (The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.). The working title for the series was Ian Fleming's Solo.

Image: AP Photo

2. It is technically set in the Sherlock Holmes universe.

On the show, the U.N.C.L.E. organization's nemesis, T.H.R.U.S.H., was founded by the Sherlock Holmes villain Col. Sebastian Moran. In the backstory, Moran created the evil organization after his boss, Moriarity, went over the Reichenbach Falls. So, in a way, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is a sequel to Sherlock — it is set in the same world. The modern Sherlock Holmes films and the recent Man from U.N.C.L.E. flick were all directed by Guy Ritchie, who has quietly developed his own cinematic shared universe.

Image: AP Photo

3. William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy appeared in an episode together — years before 'Star Trek.'

In "The Project Strigus Affair," the ninth episode, the soon-to-be Kirk and Spock were on opposite sides. Shatner played a good guy, while Nimoy was a henchman. They appeared in one scene together, two years before the voyages of the Enterprisebegan. James Doohan also popped up on the show. And Sonny & Cher, for what it's worth.

To read the complete story, click here.

You'll find much more about UNCLE in