Henry Cavill’sCasino Royaleaudition has finally leaked - and proves he just wasn’t ready to playJames Bond. Cavill made an impression early in his career when he auditioned for high-profile roles like Bruce Wayne/Batman inBatman Beginsor Superman in 2006’sSuperman Returns. Of course, he later played Superman in several DCU movies, but probably his most famous near miss was his audition forJames BondrebootCasino Royale.Reportedly,the final choice came down to Cavill or Daniel Craig, with producers ultimately opting for the latter.
Speaking withThe Expressin 2023,Casino Royaledirector Martin Campbell said of Cavill that “He looked great in the audition. His acting was tremendous." However, the director also conceded that “He just looked a little young…” when it came to producers making the final decision. FollowingDaniel Craig’s Bond exit withNo Time To Die, there has been much speculation about who the next 007 will be. Names like Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Regé-Jean Page keep being linked, while Cavill is seemingly part of every single list of Bond candidates.
Henry Cavill’s Leaked Casino Royale Audition Proves He Was Too Young To Play Bond
Cavill lacked the world-weariness needed for 007
After many years of hearing how strong his reading was,Henry Cavill’sCasino Royaleaudition has finally appeared online. Before this audition, the 22-year-old Cavill had appeared in the likes ofHellraisersequelHellworldorThe Count of Monte Cristo, but he hadn’t much experience with leading roles.The audition is fascinating for several reasons, since the young Cavill clearly hassomething, and it makes sense he was up for such major roles despite a lack of credits. However, theCasino Royaleaudition tape also makes it clear Cavill was far too young.
ThisJames Bondmoviemay find the character at the beginning of his 00 career, but he’s still lived a life prior to that. There’s already a cynicism and world-weariness to 007 inCasino Royale, but Cavill wouldn’t have had the experience to convincingly portray that.Cavill had an undeniable charisma and charm, but he was too babyfacedfor what the role demanded. The filmcouldhave been tweaked to suit a younger actor and that may have made for an interesting movie in its own right - but it feels likeCasino Royaletook the best approach.
Daniel Craig Was Perfect For Casino Royale
Craig was at just the right age for 007
The notion of a prequel that found Bond at the beginning of his 00 service had been suggested as a debut for Timothy Dalton’s version. It was ultimately decided that it would be a bad idea to have a film where the character lacked his usual suaveness or combat skills, so this was rejected.Casino Royalefixed this prequel problem by establishing that Craig’s Bond was already in his late 30s when he became an agentand had gone through military training.
Cavill looked and felt too young and innocent, and needed more miles on the clock as both an actor and a person…
Taking Bond’s backstory into account, Craig was the best choice for the part. He’s got the charisma and sex appeal, in addition to looking like he could annihilate any opponent in a fight. The reasons Craig was right for the film also highlight why Cavill was wrong. He looked and felt too young and innocent, and needed more miles on the clock both as an actor and a person before he could take on that role.
Henry Cavill Would Make For A Great James Bond Now, But He Has The Opposite Problem
It feels like Cavill has been stealth rehearsing for Bond for 20 years
Cavill wasn’t ready for Bond when he read forCasino Royale,but he would nail the part now. A decade later, his portrayal of another iconic spy in 2015’sThe Man from U.N.C.L.E.proved his 007 potential to everyone, while his roles inbothArgylleandThe Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfarefeatured multiple hat tips to theJames Bondsaga. While he was clearly too young forCasino Royale, the issue with casting Cavill as the next Bond now is that, at age 41, he might be too old.
Timothy Dalton’s First James Bond Movie Was Almost A Prequel To Sean Connery’s Dr. No, Breaking 007’s Timeline
Timothy Dalton’s first James Bond movie was originally developed as a prequel to the very first film, Dr. No, that would fill in 007’s origin story.
Speaking withAP, franchise producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson stated the next James Bond will likely be in their 30s, so they can star in at least three movies. The franchise has historically looked for actors who don’t already have famous characters on their resumes too; in Cavill’s case, he’s got SupermanandGeralt of Rivia.It could even be argued that Cavill’s casting would be too obvious of a choice, especially as he’s already played variations on the part.
On the flip side, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan were already in their 40s when they were cast, so Cavill shouldn’t be discounted just yet. Even theCasino Royaleaudition marked him out as a talent to watch - and he has made good on that early promise. Whether he’ll finally get a chance to show the world what hisJames Bondlooks like is another matter entirely.
Casino Royale
Cast
Casino Royale introduces Daniel Craig as James Bond in his first mission as a 00 Agent. Tasked with preventing the terrorist financier Le Chiffre from winning a high-stakes poker game in Montenegro, Bond teams up with Vesper Lynd and Felix Leiter, kicking off a pivotal chapter in the espionage saga.
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.
