Henry Cavill's James Bond Audition Tape Is a Great Look at What Could Have Been
Henry Cavill's screen test for Casino Royale teases a kinder, softer James Bond. One to watch in the race to find the next Bond?
With that in mind, it makes sense that Cavill could have been the favorite of director Martin Campbell. Yet, even today, itâs hard to disagree with Eon Productionsâ final choice of Daniel Craig, a man who can play the soulfulness foregrounded by Cavill, while still retaining the edge that people usually associate with Bond.
Fortunately, Cavill got the chance to play a superspy later in his career. The actorâs suave CIA agent Napoleon Solo in Guy Ritchieâs The Man from U.N.C.L.E. has made that movie an enduring cult favorite. He won over cynics who disliked him for the Snyder-verse movies with his two-fisted spy August Walker in Mission: Impossible â Fallout. And then thereâs Argylle, a movie that doesnât really make much sense, but does feature Cavill as a Bond-style super-agent. Who has a flattop, for some reason.
Even more than the screen test, these roles prove that Cavill can play Bond. Given that Craig has hung up his Walther PPK after No Time to Die, maybe Eon will circle back around to Cavill, just like they did when they cast Brosnan for GoldenEye after failing to get him for The Living Daylights. If they do, perhaps Cavill can revive the sweetness and softness on display in the screentest, making him a truly unique version of 007.
As far as how Cavill feels about playing the next Bond, he told The Rich Eisen Show last year, âMaybe Iâm too old now, maybe Iâm not. Itâs up to Barbara Broccoli and Mike Wilson and weâll see what their plans are.â Sounds like the 41-year-old actor is still interestedâŠ