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 very 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 the fervent support of numerous Bond fans eager to see the Superman and Witcher actor succeed Daniel Craig.
Speculation now centers on whether Amazon's involvement enhances Cavill's chances. Cavill is already committed to starring in and producing Amazon's highly anticipated Warhammer 40,000 project. Could a Bond role be next?
Interestingly, Cavill famously auditioned for Casino Royale (2006), an audition readily available online. Director Martin Campbell described the audition as "tremendous," but the then 23-year-old Cavill was deemed too young for the part, ultimately 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 acknowledged in an interview with Josh Horowitz that he was likely too young at the time and that Craig's casting was an excellent choice.
With Daniel Craig's departure after No Time to Die, the search for his successor was already underway. Campbell noted that Bond 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 during his Casino Royale audition. However, Campbell also praised Cavill's current fitness and overall suitability for the role.
