Summary
Henry Cavill’s expansive career proves that missing out on the role ofJames Bondwas best for him. Since thedeath of Daniel Craig’s James Bond inNo Time To Die, eyes have turned to who will portray the character next. The choice of actor in the role of James Bond is often one that receives a great deal of attention given its long history and the iconography of the character. From Sean Connery to Roger Moore and Daniel Craig, the manyactors who have played James Bondhave left a long legacy behind them.
Withupdates and news aboutJames Bond 26likely 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.
Every James Bond Movie In Chronological Order
James Bond has brought fans action and espionage for nearly six decades with 24 films. Here is a list of all the 007 films in chronological order.
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 asCasino Royalewas 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 withCinemaBlend,Casino Royaledirector 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 forArgylle,director Matthew Vaughn revealed to Cavill in an interview withSiriusXMthat Campbell actually preferred him in the role to Craig, but thatCasino Royale’s producer Barbara Broccoli pushed for the latter.
After Cavill auditioned forCasino 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
Only six years after being rejected as Bond, Cavill was cast by Zack Snyder as the DCEU’s Superman…
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 inMan of Steelin 2012 before the film was released a year later in 2013. Cavill then appeared in several of thebest 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.
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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 inJames 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’sThe Witcher.The Witcheris 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 thatThe Witcherseason 4’s story is all but doomed going forward. The reason for this stems fromCavill’s exit as Geralt fromThe 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 inThe Witcherseason 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 fromThe Witcher,Cavill has played many other iconic roles since missing out on James Bond. In 2018, Cavill played Walker inMission: Impossible - Fallout. Cavill ranks among the best villains in theM:Ifranchise 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’sEnola Holmesfilms. In Cavill’s future, he has a reboot ofHighlandercoming up, as well as aWarhammer 40Kseries which is a passion project of his.
2 Upcoming Henry Cavill Franchises After Leaving The Witcher & Superman
Cavill has lost two huge franchises, but after a streak of bad luck, the Superman actor has a number of potential franchises in the works.
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 Join The MCU
One of the biggestcameos in Marvel’sDeadpool & Wolverinesaw 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 inThe Witcherto Sherlock Holmes and Wolverine, Cavill’s career since 2005 has proven that he has been anything but typecast. While Cavill being cast in the nextJames Bondcould still happen and would be great, many should be thankful it comes after, not before, the actor’s interesting, diverse career.
If This Is Henry Cavill’s Geralt Replacement, I’m Happy He Left The Witcher
Henry Cavill leaving The Witcher was incredibly disappointing, yet the actor may have just provided us with its perfect replacement going forward.
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.
