Henry Cavill was one of the best performers to play Superman, yet he also would have made a fantastic James Bond. Fascinatingly, he came quite near to playing the role after Pierce Brosnan said goodbye to it. Martin Campbell, the director of Casino Royale, recently discussed the reasons why Henry Cavill was passed up in favor of Daniel Craig, and now fans are pleading with the producers to give the Man of Steel actor the 007 role once more.
After Die Another Day, Brosnan quit the Bond franchise. Cavill, among other actors, also tried out for the part of the sleek spy but was defeated by Daniel Craig. Craig has now left the Bond franchise, hence the search for the next Bond is still underway. In addition to Cavill, Aaron Taylor-Johnson is a strong candidate for the part; while the producers were hoping to cast Idris Elba in the upcoming movie, reports have suggested he expressed no interest.
Why did Henry Cavill not land the role in Casino Royale?
In a recent interview with Express UK, Casino Royale’s director Martin Campbell revealed that he believed Henry Cavill could have been “tremendous” as James Bond but when Cavill came in for the audition, the director felt that he was too young to play the part. Read his full quote below :
“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.”
Campbell, later on, discussed how the casting process for all the James Bond movies worked. Describing it as “democratic”, he revealed how eight people, including himself, the producers, and the casting director sat around a table and had a vote.
Does Henry Cavill still stand a chance to become the infamous spy?
Cavill’s name is once again being spoken about as a prospective 007 now that Craig has served his turn as Bond and the position is up for Bond 26. However, director Campbell doesn’t think Cavill will ever win the part, and he has a very precise reason why. In an interview with Express, Campbell revealed the main reason he believes Cavill’s time as James Bond is over.
“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. I think they sign on for three Bonds, I’m not absolutely 100 per cent certain of that. I know with Pierce 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 and anything beyond that’s two, three years per Bond”
The idea of a one-and-done Bond may once again be acceptable given how prevalent multiverses are in films and how fans are learning to accept multiple actors portraying the same character as a result. Cavill, who finished second in Casino Royale, might then play 007 in Bond 26. After then, someone else might have a chance to star in the movie to keep things interesting.
Source: Express
