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 mentions, Henry Cavill emerged as the definitive fan favorite.
AnswerSee ResultsBezos' tweet quickly propelled Henry Cavill to trending status, fueled by the fervent support of numerous James 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 adaptation. Could a Bond role be added to his slate?
It's worth noting that Cavill famously auditioned for the role in 2006's Casino Royale (footage of which is available online). Casino Royale 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, in an interview with Josh Horowitz, acknowledged that he was likely too young at the time and praised Craig's performance.
The search for Bond's successor following Daniel Craig's departure in No Time to Die is well-documented. Campbell's comments suggest a three-film commitment for Bond actors, potentially explaining why Cavill's age (40) might have previously been a factor. However, with Amazon now at the helm, the possibilities remain open.
