Following the surprising announcement that Amazon has assumed full creative control over the James Bond franchise, with long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson stepping back, fans are buzzing with anticipation about who will be the next 007. Amazon's CEO, Jeff Bezos, sparked a lively debate on X / Twitter by asking his followers for their choice, and the response was overwhelmingly in favor of one actor: Henry Cavill.
While notable names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson have been mentioned as potential candidates, Henry Cavill emerged as the clear fan-favorite. Cavill, known for his roles as Superman and in "The Witcher," has garnered significant support from the Bond community.
AnswerSee ResultsCavill's name quickly trended online following Bezos' tweet, fueled by enthusiastic support from Bond fans. The actor's recent involvement with Amazon, signing on to star in and produce the much-anticipated "Warhammer 40,000" project, has led some to speculate whether his chances of becoming the next 007 have improved under Amazon's stewardship.
Henry Cavill's history with the Bond franchise adds to the intrigue. He famously auditioned for the role in the 2006 film "Casino Royale," where director Martin Campbell praised his performance as "tremendous." Despite his strong showing, Cavill, at the age of 23, was considered too young for the part, which ultimately went to Daniel Craig.
In a 2023 interview with The Express, Campbell reflected on Cavill's audition, saying, "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."
Cavill himself acknowledged the close call in an interview with Josh Horowitz, stating, "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. 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."
As Daniel Craig concluded his tenure with the franchise in "No Time to Die," the search for the next James Bond has been ongoing. Martin Campbell noted, "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." He also mentioned the typical commitment to the role, saying, "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."
Considering Cavill's current age of 40, Campbell mused, "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."
The conversation around Henry Cavill as the next James Bond continues to gain momentum, leaving fans eager to see if Amazon will make the casting decision that many are hoping for.
