In a surprising turn of events, Amazon has assumed full creative control over the iconic James Bond franchise, marking a significant shift as long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson step back. This development has sparked a fervent debate among fans and industry insiders alike: who should don the tuxedo and take up the mantle of 007 next?
Jeff Bezos, Amazon's head honcho, took to X (formerly Twitter) to pose this very question to his followers, and the response was overwhelmingly clear. While names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson were floated as potential candidates, it's Henry Cavill who has emerged as the fan-favorite choice to succeed Daniel Craig.
AnswerSee ResultsFollowing Bezos' tweet, Henry Cavill's name quickly trended online, reflecting the strong support from the James Bond community for the actor, known for his roles as Superman and in "The Witcher." With Amazon now steering the franchise and Cavill involved in their ambitious Warhammer 40,000 project, speculation is rife about whether this could boost his chances of stepping into Bond's shoes.
Cavill's history with the role is well-documented; he famously auditioned for the part in the 2006 film Casino Royale. Director Martin Campbell praised Cavill's performance, calling it "tremendous," yet the then-23-year-old was deemed too youthful, losing out to Daniel Craig. Reflecting on this in a 2023 interview with The Express, Campbell remarked, "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 during 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 the franchise moves forward without Daniel Craig, who concluded his tenure with No Time to Die, the search for the next James Bond continues. 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 shed light on the commitment required, 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 age and past audition, Campbell concluded, "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."
