Following the surprising announcement of Amazon's acquisition of full creative control over the James Bond franchise, with Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson stepping aside, the burning question is: who will be the next 007?
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos posed this question to his X/Twitter followers, and the response was overwhelmingly clear. While several actors, including Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (a previous frontrunner), received considerable support, Henry Cavill emerged as the clear fan favorite.
AnswerSee ResultsBezos' tweet quickly propelled Henry Cavill to trending status, fueled by fervent James Bond fans advocating for the Superman and Witcher actor to succeed Daniel Craig. Speculation now centers on whether Cavill's chances have improved with Amazon's newfound control. Cavill is already committed to starring in and producing Amazon's highly anticipated Warhammer 40,000 adaptation. Could a Bond role be next?
It's worth noting that Cavill famously auditioned for the role of James Bond for 2006's Casino Royale (the audition is available online). Casino Royale director Martin Campbell described the audition as "tremendous," but the then 23-year-old Cavill was deemed too young, losing out to Daniel Craig.
In a 2023 interview with The Express, Campbell stated, "He looked great in the audition. His acting was tremendous. And look, if Daniel didn’t exist, Henry would have made an excellent Bond." Cavill himself, in an interview with Josh Horowitz, acknowledged that he was likely too young at the time and that Craig was an excellent choice.
The search for Bond's successor following Daniel Craig's departure with No Time to Die is well-documented. Campbell's comments suggest that actors typically commit to three films, a commitment spanning approximately six years. At 40, Cavill would be 50 by the end of a potential three-film run, a factor Campbell previously cited as contributing to Cavill's perceived youth in his earlier audition. Despite this, Campbell praises Cavill's suitability for the role.
