Henry Cavill almost traded in his cape for a tuxedo.
Back in 2005, Cavill auditioned for the iconic role of James Bond in Casino Royale. Director Martin Campbell revealed that Cavill and Daniel Craig were the top contenders to succeed Pierce Brosnan as 007. What Cavill’s take on Bond might have been has been a topic of speculation for many years, and now, thanks to a leaked video, fans can finally catch a glimpse.
In this recently surfaced audition, posted on Ron South’s YouTube channel, Cavill, at just 22 years old with long black hair, is seen performing lines from a scene in the 1995 movie GoldenEye. According to the description accompanying the video, it was sourced from a “VHS tape found in a recycling bin at a movie studio.”
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Ultimately, Craig took home the role, portraying the beloved spy across five films. Producers chose a more mature interpretation of Bond, opting for Craig, who was 37 during the audition, rather than a character in his early twenties. Despite not landing the role, Cavill impressed Campbell, who described his audition as “tremendous.”
“He looked fantastic during the audition. His acting was remarkable,” Campbell stated to The Express in June 2023. “And let’s be honest, if Daniel didn’t exist, Henry would have made a superb Bond. He was in excellent shape, very handsome, and chiseled. He just appeared slightly young for the role at that moment.”
Even now, Cavill is still frequently mentioned in discussions about the next James Bond, as Eon Productions searches for the actor to succeed Craig. Producer Barbara Broccoli recently indicated that the next Bond will likely be in his 30s, which may eliminate Cavill, who is currently 41.
As for the next installment of the James Bond franchise, a release date has yet to be announced.
