In a surprising turn of events, Amazon has taken full creative control over the James Bond franchise, with long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson stepping back. This news has sparked a fervent debate among fans about who should be the next to don the iconic 007 suit. The burning question on everyone's mind is: who will step into the shoes of the world's most famous spy?
Amazon's CEO, Jeff Bezos, took to X (formerly Twitter) to pose this very question to his followers. The response was overwhelming, with a clear fan favorite emerging from the crowd. While names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson were thrown into the mix, it was Henry Cavill who captured the hearts of many Bond enthusiasts.
AnswerSee ResultsFollowing Bezos' tweet, Henry Cavill quickly became a trending topic online, propelled by the enthusiastic support of James Bond fans. Known for his roles as Superman and Geralt of Rivia in "The Witcher," Cavill's name has been synonymous with action and charisma, traits essential for the next 007. The question now arises whether Amazon's involvement could boost Cavill's chances of finally becoming James Bond, especially given his recent commitment to star in and produce Amazon's "Warhammer 40,000" project.
Henry Cavill's connection to the Bond franchise is not new. He famously auditioned for the role of James Bond in 2006 for "Casino Royale," an audition praised as "tremendous" by the film's director, Martin Campbell. Despite his strong performance, the then-23-year-old Cavill was deemed too young, and the role went to Daniel Craig. Reflecting on this in a 2023 interview with The Express, Campbell noted, "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 has spoken about the audition, sharing in an interview with Josh Horowitz, "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."
The search for the next James Bond intensified after Daniel Craig's departure following "No Time to Die." Martin Campbell commented on the age considerations for the role, stating, "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% 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. 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."
With Amazon now steering the franchise, the future of James Bond remains an exciting prospect. As fans eagerly await the announcement of the next 007, Henry Cavill's name continues to resonate strongly within the Bond community, leaving many to wonder if his time as the suave spy is finally on the horizon.
