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Speaking with Heat Magazine (via X user @nature_dweller), Cavill reflected on his history with the James Bond series. He had auditioned to play Bond in Casino Royale, but obviously lost the part to Craig. “I didn’t turn the role down – it just wasn’t the right time,” Cavill said. “What actor wouldn’t love to be Bond? But at 42, I’d probably be considered a bit old to start now. I would love to be a Bond villain, though. If it was the right character, I think that would be fascinating to explore.”
Henry Cavill Would Be a Great James Bond Villain
Cavill was too young for Bond when he auditioned for Casino Royale (he was a fresh-faced 22 year old at the time), and now, as fate would have it, he’s a bit too old to don the tux. It’s been said Bond 26 director Denis Villeneuve and his collaborators are targeting a British male who’s in either his late 20s or early 30s for the coveted role. That’s understandable, as Amazon certainly wants Villeneuve’s film to be the first installment in a new series that can go on for the next several years. The expectation will likely be for the new actor to headline a handful of movies; Pierce Brosnan made four, while Craig starred in five.
Signing on to play a Bond villain would be a nice compromise for Cavill, then. While there are a handful of Bond villains who have appeared in multiple movies, odds are Cavill wouldn’t have to agree to a multi-picture contract. His experience could be a one-off, allowing him to dip his toes in the world of James Bond before he looks to other creative pursuits. Some of the best Bond villains of all time, including Javier Bardem’s Silva in Skyfall, were one and done, leaving a memorable impression on viewers in a short period of time. The opportunity to add to that legacy would be appealing for Cavill.
