Henry Cavill’s double missed opportunity in the $7.8B franchise.

Renowned for his roles as Superman and Geralt of Rivia, Hollywood star Henry Cavill has seen the James Bond role slip through his fingers not once but twice. While he has captured audiences’ hearts with stellar performances across various films and shows, fans have been eager to see him don the iconic 007 spy persona.

Henry Cavill
With Daniel Craig stepping away from the series, speculation about the next Bond has been rife, and Cavill has consistently emerged as a prime candidate. However, the odds once again don’t seem in his favor.

Henry Cavill Lost James Bond Role to Daniel Craig

Henry Cavill’s quest to portray James Bond began when he auditioned for the role in Martin Campbell’s 2006 film Casino Royale, which introduced Daniel Craig as James Bond. While he was able to impress the filmmaker with his British charm and charisma, his youth proved to be a barrier.
Casino Royale (2006)
“He looked great in the audition. His acting was tremendous,” said the film’s director in an interview with Express UK. He also said that if he had not found Craig, “Henry would have made an excellent Bond.” However, despite having the looks and physical appearance for the role, there was one factor that led Campbell to consider the Knives Out star.

“He just looked a little young at that time back then,” he said. The director then chose to set in motion a franchise that would span five more entries with Craig as the MI6 agent, and Cavill lost the opportunity. Talking about losing the role to Craig, Cavill said that although he did not get the role, it still offered him a career boost.
Henry Cavill in The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

“It was a fun adventure at the time and definitely gave me a boost to my career. That was the key element of it,” he said. However, the table once again seemed to have turned against Cavill when it comes to James Bond, as the 40-year-old actor is now considered too old to play the role.

Why Henry Cavill Might Not Be the Next James Bond?

Following Daniel Craig’s departure from the role, Henry Cavill has become a fan favorite to don the title of 007 in the next segment of the franchise. However, he continues to face skepticism about assuming the role due to concerns about his age.
Daniel Craig as James Bond
While fans are still eager to see him take on the role with an older and more refined spin on the character, it’s unlikely that he would be cast at this point. This also seems the case, as the producers of the James Bond franchise have stated that they are looking for someone in their 30s potentially with a “10,12-year commitment.”

When told the same during his 2022 interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Cavill said with a playful quip, “Haven’t got much time,” humorously acknowledging his age of 39 at the moment before adding, “I am quite busy now.”
Hollywood star Henry Cavill
The Witcher star, who has just come out of two popular franchises, has lined up a series of projects. However, considering the filmmaker is looking for a younger actor with a 10 to 12-year commitment to the franchise, it seems unlikely that they would prefer Cavill for the role.