Pipped to the post by Daniel Craig in 2005 to land the role of James Bond, Henry Cavill is still up for playing 007, but it all depends on the producers according to the actor.
In 2005, Henry Cavill was among the favorites to play James Bond. Martin Campbell, director of Casino Royale, declared in January 2023 at Daily Express : “He looked great during his audition. His game was great. And if Daniel hadn’t existed, Henry would have made a great Bond.” Then adding: “He just seemed a little young at the time.”.
But 19 years later, and while the James Bond saga is in full swing, the British actor, now freed from his role as Superman, could well return to the forefront to play Her Majesty’s secret agent.
The actor will be showing on January 31 in the action film Argylle by Matthew Vaughn, in which he plays a secret agent. A role close to that of James Bond. The American magazine Total Film asked Henry Cavill about the similarities between his role in Argylle and that of Agent 007 and asked if he thought playing another spy might hurt his chances of playing the British spy created in 1953 by Ian Fleming.
“In Argylle, he’s a fun character. Whether I’m left out of Bond because of that or not is up to Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.”
For Henry Cavill, the two roles can therefore coexist in his filmography since Agent Argylle, whom he plays in Matthew Vaughn’s film, is not as serious as that of Bond. Proof of this is the ridiculous haircut his character wears in the action comedy. The actor is therefore always ready to play the role of 007.
Universal France Henry Cavill in Argylle
In the feature film, Argylle is a novel character from the imagination of Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard). But the novelist is threatened with death. Aiden Wilde (Sam Rockwell), a real undercover spy, is tasked with saving her.
To date, no information regarding James Bond 26 has not yet been revealed by producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, thus giving free rein to a whole bunch of speculations, questions and declarations. Each young actor appearing in an action film becomes a possible interpreter of Agent 007 for the bookmakers. The latest names to have been mentioned to play Bond are Aaron-Taylor Johnson, Tom Hardy, Regé-Jean Page, James Norton and Lucien Laviscount (Emily in Paris).
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If it was once considered to feminize the character, producer Barbara Brocoli quickly made it known that she did not think that a woman “should play James Bond, but that it was better to create suitable roles for women and not just make them play male roles”.
Warner Bros.
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For his part, Michael G. Wilson told the site Deadline that hiring a young actor wouldn’t work: “We have auditioned young actors in the past but visualizing it didn’t work. Remember, Bond is already a veteran. He has some experience.”
However, the chosen actor will have to sign a contract for several years. Being “liberated” from his roles as Superman and The Witcher may work in Henry Cavill’s favor, but is the 40-year-old actor ready to commit that long to the James Bond saga ?
Henry Cavill already has a busy schedule. It will be on display atArgyle from January 31 and should then join the filming of the remake of Highlander by Chad Stahelski and the action film by Guy Ritchie, The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare on the training of the first British commandos after the bombing of England by the German army in 1939. The actor should then be the headliner of the Warhammer 40K series.
Will Henry Cavill find the time to don the 007 costume to save the world (once again)?