Out of the renowned names, Henry Cavill is the best choice to play James Bond.
Film critic Armond White remarked in his review of Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, which starred Cavill as Superman: “Cavill’s dramatic handsomeness recalls young Sean Connery’s exotic virility; his simultaneously otherworldly and legendary aspects suit Snyder’s sensuous action style—textured close-ups of skin and capillaries, jet trails in the sky as he flies, his red cape’s heavy swoosh.”
I agree with Mr. White that Henry has the physical screen presence that matches Connery.
At age 22, Henry auditioned for James Bond during the casting of Casino Royale. In a 2023 interview with the Daily Express, the film’s director, Martin Campbell, said of Cavill’s audition: “He looked great in the audition. His acting was tremendous. And look, if Daniel didn’t exist, Henry would have made an excellent Bond. He looked terrific, he was in great physical shape… very handsome, very chiselled. He just looked a little young at that time.”
Henry has recently ruled himself out of the running, citing his age—he is 43.
But Henry shouldn’t rule himself out. Sir Roger Moore was 45 when he was cast as Bond and went on to play the part for 12 years across seven films. Pierce Brosnan was 42 when he was cast as Bond and played the part for seven years across four films.
Bond fandom is decidedly mixed on Cavill as Bond. I’ve read the debates. Some feel that Cavill is too well known for his roles as Superman and Geralt of Rivia to be Bond. But Roger Moore was well known as Simon Templar in The Saint and Lord Brett Sinclair in The Persuaders! before he was cast as Bond.
If any Bond fan wants anything remarkably close to the second coming of Connery, then Cavill is as close as you’re going to get.
I’ve always had the sense that the media doesn’t want Cavill for Bond and has instead pushed others. For a while it was Tom Hardy, then Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and now Jacob Elordi and Callum Turner.
Bond needs to move away from the influence that Christopher Nolan has indirectly had on the series. However, with Denis Villeneuve in the director’s chair, that still seems to be the direction the franchise is heading.
I doubt Villeneuve would seriously consider Henry if that is the case.
But would producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman consider him?
They are under considerable pressure to satisfy the moviegoing public, and Henry is by far the most popular choice among the general audience. However, current casting is looking for a younger actor in the early 30s range.
This puts Pascal and Heyman in a big predicament. Screwing up James Bond is not something you want on your resume.
Bond needs to move toward a more fun action-adventure thriller and shed the Nolan aesthetic it has partially adopted in recent years.
This is why who is cast as Bond is so important.
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