Henry Cavill as James Bond is the Ideal Choice for the Next 007
The recent news of Amazon taking creative control of the James Bond franchise and announcing new producers for the
The recent news of Amazon taking creative control of the James Bond franchise and announcing new producers for the next Bond film has taken the internet by storm. The biggest question still looms over: who will be the next James Bond?
The choice for Daniel Craig’s replacement is the biggest concern Amazon has to deal with right now. Why Henry Cavill as James Bond is the best decision for now, I will explain to you how.
Candidates for the next James Bond
After Daniel Craig, the Bond franchise is still looking for its next lead to play the emblematic role, even after three years. The longest-running series in cinematic history is looking for the perfect hero to put on the tuxedo one more time and play some gutsy poker.
According to BBC, Henry Cavill has shown interest in playing the role of the next 007 hero as he was a runner-up when Craig landed the part in 2006’s Casino Royale.
The movie director, Martin Campbell himself, revealed that The Witcher star was “tremendous” in his audition and if Daniel hadn’t been there, he surely would have been the best choice. However, his age was a problem.
Henry looked too young at that time, being only 22. Have a look at his audition here:
Other strong candidates for the next James Bond are enlisted here, based on Ladbrokes betting.
- Aaron Taylor-Johnson
- James Norton
- Theo James
- Harris Dickinson
Criteria for James Bond character
Pierce Brosnan clearly declared that James Bond needs to be British. Period. He said it when he had concerns after Amazon gained the creative control and how the future will be steered by the new producers of the Bond film.
Age
Before handing over the reins to the new producers of the James Bond franchise, Michael G. Wilson opened up about some criteria for becoming James Bond.
He said,
“Remember, Bond’s already a veteran. He’s had some experience. He’s a person who has been through the wars, so to speak. He’s probably been in the SAS or something.”
This suggests that a too-young Bond will not be a good idea for the franchise, which makes Cavill an apt choice.
While talking to Radio Times, the casting director for the Bond franchise, Debbie McWilliams, said that young actors don’t “have the mental capacity to take it on…it’s a massive responsibility.”
Committed to working for the next decade at least
Based on The Economic Times reports, Barbara Broccoli told that James Bond should be committed to work for the next ten years once he is selected. He could be any race and must bring something fresh to the role. He would be free to take on other projects, but he should be dedicated enough to give his time once his next film comes up.
Charismatic and acceptance of change
The casting director, Debbie McWilliams, has something more to add for Bond’s role that whoever is the successor of the said role should be an “extremely charismatic fit” and must be ready to accept change, as cited by The Economic Times.
He should also be ready to face criticism as Daniel Craig did, and protect his spot decently. The same is expected from the next Bond.
Why is Henry Cavill as James Bond the ideal choice?
Cavill is already quite close to Amazon as he signed on to star in and produce the highly anticipated Warhammer 40,000 project. Whether he will wear the tuxedo and get a license to kill as James Bond still remains uncertain.
Age shouldn’t be an obstacle for Henry Cavill to land the role of James Bond because Daniel Craig was 38 years old when he played Bond in Casino Royale and remained one for the next 15 years.
| Actors who played Bond | Their age at that time |
| Timothy Dalton | 41 years |
| Pierce Brosnan | 42 years |
| Roger Moore | 45 years |
(Source: Screen Rant)
Physical presence and charisma
Having seen him as Superman and in The Witcher series, Cavill certainly has that classic Bond physique. He looks handsome, sharp, chiseled, and athletic- all at the same time. His screen presence brings charm to any role that he portrays, which is a highly regarded trait for his possibility of getting selected as James Bond.
He is a physical performer and a martial arts pro. Performing stunts is a piece of cake for him. He gets training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) from renowned trainers like Roger Gracie, Men’s Journal reported. His Superman role also gained him experience in physical strength, charming personality, and captivating performances as Superman and Geralt of Rivia.
His commanding approach to acting helps him carry a genuine demeanor with style, adding to his on-screen charisma. He possesses the suave sophistication, physical prowess, and breathtaking looks of a typically glamorous James Bond that you can’t deny.
Action experience, spy movies
Henry Cavill told Sharp Magazine once,
“The superhero genre tends to be action movies. The acting isn’t supposed to be highlighted. It’s overshadowed by spectacle. There are more important things than a finessed performance.”
It doesn’t mean he is not concerned about acting, but rather, he believes it depends more on the action sequences. This could be the case in Bond if he gets selected. James Bond, categorically, might not be a typical superhero with a cape or superpowers; he certainly could be considered one as he ‘saves the day’.
Since he has past experience working in spy movies like The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015), Mission Impossible – Fallout (2018), and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024), he stands a sure shot chance.
In fact, once he said in The Rich Eisen interview, when the host asked him about working on a character that is based on a James Bond role, his response was, “Seems like a good first step”.
But also, he said he is “too old now, maybe I’m not”, per Forbes.
Fan popularity
Cavill has attracted a plethora of fans after he played Superman in the DCEU, The Witcher on Netflix, and other roles as tall and handsome (not dark, of course). The diversity of roles that he has played, undoubtedly, has melted the internet in favor of him being the next James Bond.
Even when Amazon’s head, Jeff Bezos, asked for a public opinion on his Instagram account on who should be the next Bond, fans hooted for Henry Cavill. Have a look:
View this post on Instagram
One of the Reddit threads has fans gushing over how he was back then in his audition and how he could kill it as Bond now. One of the comments said,
“He’s got to audition because he has the perfect look for Bond.”
Another user proclaimed that he wasn’t ready then, but now, after having played some of the epochal roles in other films and series, he surely would be among the A-listers for the Bond role.
Furthermore, Henry Cavill’s name has been in the air since Craig’s casting rumors were on. People have been pushing for him and expect the same after Amazon’s takeover.
Other strong candidates, such as Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s name has recently surfaced, as his name wasn’t in the mix back then.
Versatility
Not only his origins’ alignment with a British background is another plus point for getting the 007 role, but in terms of his past roles, Cavill seems more Bond-ready. The action-oriented roles that he has done in his career give him a strong opportunity to earn the Bond role.
Some of the projects were named earlier, including Superman, Mission Impossible, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E., other similar action movies roles include:
- Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
- Justice League (2017)
- Immortals (2011)
- The Cold Light of Day (2012)
- Argylle (2014)
Will Henry Cavill make it to the next James Bond film?
A con that could go against him is that he has played another iconic character in the cinema, Superman, which lowers his chance of getting selected for another similar quintessential character.
With high fan demand, past roles, and massive Bond energy, Cavill seems like a perfect match. He was just an inch away from getting this role from Daniel Craig, but it could be him this time. Fingers crossed!
What do you think of Henry Cavill as the next James Bond? Comment below.
