Henry Cavill’s Bond Audition Impressed ‘Casino Royale’ Director: He Would’ve Been an Excellent 007 If Daniel Craig Hadn’t Secured the Role
In a recent interview with Express UK, director Martin Campbell, known for his work on “Casino Royale,” shared that Henry Cavill could have been James Bond if Daniel Craig hadn’t landed the role of 007 in the 2006 franchise reboot. “Casino Royale” revitalized the Bond series following Pierce Brosnan’s polarizing “Die Another Day” in 2002 and marked the beginning of Craig’s acclaimed tenure as Bond. Campbell couldn’t help but sing Cavill’s praises after his audition.
“Cavill looked fantastic during the audition. His acting was superb,” Campbell stated. “If Daniel Craig hadn’t been in the picture, Henry would have made an excellent Bond. He had an impressive physical presence and a handsome and chiseled look. The only issue was that he appeared too young at the time.”
Despite Cavill’s impressive audition, Campbell emphasized that he didn’t favor him over Craig for the role.
“The Bond casting process is quite remarkable. When they decide on the actor and hold auditions – in our case, we had eight candidates – it’s a democratic process,” Campbell explained. “We all sit around a table, about eight or nine of us, including myself, the producers, and the casting director. We discuss each candidate, and each person must agree unanimously on the decision.”
Now that Craig’s tenure as Bond has ended with the release of “No Time to Die,” the search for a new actor to fill the iconic role will begin. Should the 40-year-old Cavill be considered once again?
“When Daniel reached ‘No Time To Die,’ he was at an age where doing one more film would have made him too old for the role,” Campbell commented. “With Pierce, he had to commit to three films when we cast him. That’s around six years of your life. I suspect Daniel had a similar deal. The next actor will have to make that commitment as well.”
“Henry is 40, so by the time he finishes the third film, he’ll be 50, and each Bond film takes two to three years. Henry is in great shape, and he’s a talented actor. The director added that he did exceptionally well during the audition, but ironically, he was deemed too young,” the director added.
The decision to cast Craig in “Casino Royale” didn’t receive unanimous praise. As longtime Bond casting director Debbie McWilliams shared with Entertainment Weekly in 2021, she felt sorry for Craig due to the intense backlash from the press, who believed he wasn’t a suitable choice for Bond.
“The negative response was truly overwhelming,” McWilliams remarked about Craig’s casting. “The press reaction was terrible, and I felt sorry for him. However, strangely, I think it motivated him to prove everyone wrong.”
“Throughout the production, there were constant rumors about how he couldn’t walk, talk, or drive properly. So many false stories,” she continued. “Yet he stayed focused, worked hard, and when the film was released, people suddenly changed their tune and said, ‘Oh wow, we like him.'”
There is currently no set timeline for the announcement of the next James Bond actor.
