Following the shock news that Amazon has taken full creative control over James Bond, with long-term Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson stepping back, the question on everyone’s lips is: who should be the next 007?
That’s the question Amazon boss Jeff Bezos asked his followers on X / Twitter, and the answer was loud and clear.
Yes, some are calling for the likes of Venom star Tom Hardy, the MCU’s Idris Elba, Professor X actor James McAvoy, Magneto actor Michael Fassbender, and Kraven’s Aaron Taylor-Johnson (who was previously rumored to be top of the list) to be given the role. But the clear fan-favorite is Henry Cavill.
It didn’t take long after Bezos’ tweet for Henry Cavill to trend online, and that’s because of the sheer number of James Bond enthusiasts calling for the Superman and Witcher actor to take over where Daniel Craig left off.
Some are now wondering whether Cavill’s odds of playing the world’s most famous spy have risen now Amazon is pulling all the strings. Cavill signed on to star in and produce Amazon’s hotly anticipated Warhammer 40,000 project. Could he also sign on to star as Bond?
Of course, Cavill famously auditioned to play James Bond during casting for 2006’s Casino Royale (and you can even see that audition online). Casino Royale director Martin Campbell has called the audition “tremendous,” but the then 23-year-old Cavill lost out to Daniel Craig because he was deemed too young.
During a 2023 interview with The Express, Campbell said of Cavill: “He looked great in the audition. His acting was tremendous. And look, if Daniel didn’t exist Henry would have made an excellent Bond. He looked terrific, he was in great physical shape… very handsome, very chiseled. He just looked a little young at that time back then.”
“It was ultimately down to, and this is what I’ve been told, it was just down to me and Daniel, and I was the younger option,” said Cavill in an interview with Josh Horowitz.
“They obviously went with Daniel and I think it was an amazing choice to go with Daniel. I probably wasn’t ready at the time and I think Daniel did an incredible job over the past movies, so I’m happy they made that choice.”
It’s no secret that 007’s producers were on the lookout for the next James Bond after Daniel Craig left the franchise behind with No Time to Die. But could Cavill now play Bond? “By the time Daniel got to [No Time To Die] really he was at an age where one more would have been too old for him,” added Campbell.
“I think they sign on for three Bonds, I’m not absolutely 100% certain of that. I know with Pierce [Brosnan] he had to sign on to three when we did him. So, that’s going to take, what, six years of your life maybe? I suspect Daniel [had] the same deal. And the next guy’s going to have to do that.
“Henry’s 40, so by the time he’s done the third one he’s going to be 50. Anything beyond that’s two, three years per Bond. He’s in good shape Henry, he’s a good guy. He did very well in the audition, but ironically, he was too young.”
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].
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