Why the Casino Royale Director Predicts Henry Cavill Won't Be the Next James Bond
Despite auditioning for Casino Royale, Henry Cavill's chances of playing James Bond seem unlikely, according to the director However, there's still hope for him to star in Bond 26 as a Lazenby-like one-off
Martin Campbell, the director of Casino Royale, believes that Henry Cavill is unlikely to ever be cast as James Bond. Campbell, who directed both Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig in their respective Bond films, explains that when Brosnan became Bond, he was the clear choice for the role. However, when it came to casting for Casino Royale, there was no clear consensus and several young actors were considered, including Cavill. Despite Cavill's name being mentioned again as a potential future Bond after Craig's departure, Campbell does not believe he will be chosen. He cites a specific reason for this belief, which he revealed in an interview with Express.
By the time Daniel reached the film [No Time To Die], he had reached an age where taking on another Bond role would have been too old for him. While I'm not completely certain, it is common for actors to sign on for three Bond films. This was the case with Pierce when we worked with him. So, assuming Daniel had a similar deal, that would mean committing around six years of his life to the franchise. The next actor who takes on the role will also have to commit to multiple films. Considering Henry is currently 40, by the time he finishes his third film, he will be 50, and any further films would require an additional two to three years per Bond film. Fortunately, Henry is in great shape and is a talented actor. He performed exceptionally well in the audition process. Ironically, however, he was deemed too young for the role.
Henry Cavill Could Still Star In Bond 26...As A Lazenby-Like One-Off
The current favorite to portray James Bond in the next installment of the series is Aaron Taylor-Johnson, an actor who has reportedly already had a meeting for the highly sought-after role. While Cavill remains a top contender according to betting odds, he did express his continued interest in discussing the role with producer Barbara Broccoli and Mike G. Wilson in an interview with the Happy Sad Confused podcast last year. However, if Campbell's claim about Cavill being too old to play Bond is true, it is unlikely that Broccoli and Wilson would be interested in meeting with the Superman actor.
However, there is still a possibility for Cavill to portray James Bond, despite his age. This can only happen if the decision-makers at EON and MGM break away from tradition and offer him a contract for just one movie. In the history of the official Bond franchise, there has only been one actor, George Lazenby, who played 007 for a single film, taking over from Sean Connery in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, before Connery returned in Diamonds Are Forever. Since then, all Bond actors have signed on for at least two movies, with the last two actors serving extended tenures as per their contracts.
While EON may have valid reasons for signing actors on for multiple movies, it is not a strict rule that they must always follow. With the growing popularity of multiverses in films, audiences are becoming more accepting of multiple actors portraying the same character. This presents an opportune time to reintroduce the concept of a one-and-done Bond. Cavill, who came close to securing the role in Casino Royale, could be 007 in Bond 26, and another actor could have the chance to play Bond in the subsequent movie, ensuring a fresh take on the character.
Source: Express
