Henry Cavill as the next James Bond is an idea that has existed for around 20 years. The actor actually auditioned for the role in his early 20s, but lost out to Daniel Craig. He then spent much of that era being touted as a future 007, while establishing himself as a talented actor and a great action star. Outside of Idris Elba, there’s probably no one whose name has been linked to the role in that timeframe more than Cavill’s.
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It’s not hard to see why Cavill has been perennially linked to the role. He clearly has the right Bond look and charisma, with his role in Guy Richie’s The Man from U.N.C.L.E. essentially him doing a version of 007 in all but name. He’s proven multiple times, from Man of Steel to The Witcher, that he has the action chops and the presence to carry a major franchise. And he’s also shown that he can go a little darker, too, which can tap into Bond’s psyche as well. However, with Amazon currently developing James Bond 26, it’s time to accept that it’s probably not going to happen.
Why Henry Cavill Is Likely Out Of The Running For James Bond 26
The cruel irony is that while Cavill was too young for Casino Royale, he’s now, at 42, likely too old to take the franchise forward. That’s not intended to be disparaging or any reflection upon his ability, but most reports have suggested that Amazon is looking for an actor in their late 20s or early 30s, which means someone who could hold the role for 10-15 years like Craig did. Cavill himself has even said he “might” be too old on The Rich Eisen Show, though he also remained open to it if the call were to him his way.
Scott Rose-Marsh, 37, reportedly tested for James Bond this year, though that’s not been verified, and he’s still five years younger than Cavill. The former Superman actor is still among the favorites in terms of betting odds, but has fallen behind the likes of Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Callum Turner. After so many years of speculation, that seems based more on name and how much he’s been linked (and thus the betting public is aware), rather than actual likelihood. However, if Cavill isn’t going to be Bond, that’s not a bad thing – there’s an even better role for him.
Cavill Would Make A Great Bond Villain (& GoldenEye Has The Perfect Example)
Cavill’s ability to do charm, sophistication, and action are clear reasons why he’d be a great James Bond, but there’s no reason that couldn’t apply to a Bond villain, too. And at this point, it’d be the more interesting choice. One of Cavill’s most purely entertaining roles was as August Walker in Mission: Impossible – Fallout. The character was a highlight of what’s one of the best spy action movies of the 21st Century, coming across as an almost unstoppable hulking menace in all his arms-reloading glory.
Some of that kind of action would lend itself well to fighting against Bond, who really shouldn’t look like the biggest, beefiest guy in the bar anyway. But it could also be blended with some of the other skills that make Cavill such a popular next 007 candidate. He could still display his dry wit (and underrated comic delivery) and his charisma, and he could even be a 00-agent. GoldenEye‘s Alec Trevelyan (Sean Bean) provides the perfect template here, as an MI6 agent who secretly plots revenge against the British government, whom he blames for his family’s demise in Pierce Brosnan’s first (and best) James Bond movie.
Trevelyan was every bit 007’s equal, and that’s something that could essentially allow Cavill to play James Bond, but with a twist. It could have him be the suave spy, then reveal the layer of sadism that lies beneath the suit. That would be a best-of-both-worlds scenario, wherein we can see what he’d be like in a similar role, but without being too boxed in, because he can then go off the rails as a villain as the movie ramps up. It’d be the perfect meta-twist for audiences, deliberately playing on the years of casting speculation, fully utilizing his talent in a more creative way, and making a mark that leaves the new James Bond shaken (and fan interest stirred) as he takes the franchise forward.
James Bond 26 will be directed by Denis Villeneuve and written by Steven Knight. No cast or release date is currently in place.
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Image Courtesy of Marvel Comics
