With updates and news about James Bond 26 likely coming soon, several names are continuously raised for the next iteration of 007. One of these names is Henry Cavill, whose British heritage and unquestionable charm seemingly make him perfect for the role. That said, Cavill's career since the early 2010s raises the possibility that gaining the role of Britain's most famous superspy would have been detrimental to the actor.

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Henry Cavill’s James Bond Casting History & Speculation Explained

Henry Cavill Has A Long-Standing Connection To The Role Of James Bond

Firstly, it is worth exploring Cavill's history with James Bond, specifically his previous attempts at being chosen for the role. In 2005, the search for a new James Bond after Pierce Brosnan's tenure got underway as Casino Royale was in development. Several actors were considered, including major names like David Tennant, Ewan McGregor, Anthony Starr, and Karl Urban to name only a few. Only years later was it revealed that Henry Cavill was in serious consideration for the role of 007, before it was handed to Daniel Craig.

In an interview with CinemaBlend, Casino Royale director Martin Campbell outlined the James Bond history with Cavill. Campbell stated that Cavill's test was incredibly impressive, but that Craig's acting ability won out in the end. Furthermore, during the press tour for Argylle, director Matthew Vaughn revealed to Cavill in an interview with SiriusXM that Campbell actually preferred him in the role to Craig, but that Casino Royale's producer Barbara Broccoli pushed for the latter.

After Cavill auditioned for Casino Royale, the actor was propelled into the public eye, where he has remained for the last decade or so. Cavill's stardom has coincided with the retirement of Daniel Craig as Bond, leading many to push for the former to replace the latter. Speculation has since run rampant that Cavill could be considered as the next James Bond amid rumors that Aaron Talyor Johnson has been cast in the role. Regardless of rumors and reports, the next James Bond has not been confirmed by the studio, meaning theories about Cavill's inclusion are still commonplace.

Henry Cavill Was Cast As Superman 6 Years After His Bond Audition

Cavill's Bond Disappointment Disappeared Due To The DCEU

Although James Bond is a massive role and Cavill was likely disappointed with missing out, it is safe to say he went on to equally huge things later in his career. Only six years after being rejected as Bond, Cavill was cast by Zack Snyder as the DCEU's Superman. Cavill was cast in Man of Steel in 2012 before the film was released a year later in 2013. Cavill then appeared in several of the best and worst DCEU movies, and became the face of the franchise as Clark Kent, winning audiences' hearts who agreed he was a fantastic pick for the Son of Krypton.

Thanks to his role as Superman, Cavill's career took a massive turn. Rather than being the young actor who missed out on James Bond, Cavill became a household name thanks to the exposure of the DCEU. Since then, Cavill has appeared in a number of major franchises and Hollywood movies, which subsequently led to further speculation of Cavill being cast as the next 007 in James Bond 26.

Cavill Has Played Many Iconic Characters After Not Getting The Bond Role

Cavill's Career Consists Of Many Recognizable Characters

While Superman is undoubtedly the most iconic character Cavill has played since his James Bond disappointment, there are several other roles the actor has become synonymous with. One of these is Geralt of Rivia, with Cavill playing the character in three seasons of Netflix's The Witcher. The Witcher is based on the incredibly popular book series of the same name, and Cavill's casting proved to be a masterstroke for the show. Cavill embodied Geralt perfectly, from the gruff, tough exterior and the heart of gold beneath to the physicality of the character and the fantastic action sequences.

Cavill became so tied to Geralt in live-action that The Witcher season 4's story is all but doomed going forward. The reason for this stems from Cavill's exit as Geralt from The Witcher, with the actor deciding not to continue playing the character due to his love for the source material and Netflix's arguable inability to translate this. Cavill is being replaced by Liam Hemsworth in The Witcher season 4, and while the new actor deserves a chance to show what he can do, the disappointment of Cavill's exit led many to lose complete faith in the show.

Aside from The Witcher, Cavill has played many other iconic roles since missing out on James Bond. In 2018, Cavill played Walker in Mission: Impossible - Fallout. Cavill ranks among the best villains in the M:I franchise thanks to this role, with his death at the end of the film causing much disappointment. While James Bond is one iconic British character, another is Sherlock Holmes, whom Cavill portrayed in Netflix's Enola Holmes films. In Cavill's future, he has a reboot of Highlander coming up, as well as a Warhammer 40K series which is a ion project of his.

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All of this just proves how extensive and expansive Cavill's career has become, which likely would not have been possible had he been cast as James Bond. Daniel Craig played few other characters than Bond during his tenure, with the actor only recently branching out into more varied roles. The same likely would have been the case for Cavill, meaning missing out on James Bond may have been the best thing for his career at the time.

Henry Cavill’s Wolverine Cameo Confirms How Interesting His Career Turned Out

Cavill's Most Recent Iconic Role Saw Him The MCU

One of the biggest cameos in Marvel's Deadpool & Wolverine saw Henry Cavill appear as the latter character. Cavill's Wolverine appeared only briefly, as Deadpool was searching for a Wolverine variant across the multiverse. After a pointed jab at DC, Cavill dispatches Reynolds' Deadpool and rounds off one of the more exciting cameo scenes in the entire film. Cavill is one of the few actors to transition between DC and Marvel, with the actor getting that chance now that his time as Superman has come to an end.

Above all else, this proves how interesting Cavill's career is. As alluded to, being cast as James Bond would likely have seen Cavill receiving fewer roles outside of the franchise. In this hypothetical situation, any other roles Cavill received likely would have seen him be typecast in parts similar to Bond. From Geralt in The Witcher to Sherlock Holmes and Wolverine, Cavill's career since 2005 has proven that he has been anything but typecast. While Cavill being cast in the next James Bond could still happen and would be great, many should be thankful it comes after, not before, the actor's interesting, diverse career.

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James Bond

The James Bond franchise follows the adventures of British secret agent 007 as he combats global threats. With a license to kill, Bond faces off against various villains and criminal organizations, employing high-tech gadgets, espionage, and charm. The series spans multiple films, featuring exotic locations, thrilling action sequences, and memorable characters. Bond's mission to protect the world and uphold justice remains central, making the franchise an enduring icon in the spy genre.

Created by

Ian Fleming, Albert R. Broccoli

First Film

Dr. No

Latest Film

No Time to Die

Films

James Bond 26

Cast

Daniel Craig