MOVIE NEWS – That does not mean he has ruled out joining the next James Bond film altogether, only that he might be a much better fit as the antagonist.
For years, Henry Cavill ranked among the leading favorites to inherit Agent 007’s iconic tuxedo. At least, that was the wish shared by thousands of fans of both the actor and the most famous spy saga in film history. But as more reports about the next film began to surface, it became increasingly clear that he would be facing an uphill battle. Now the British actor himself has effectively stepped out of the running once and for all – though not necessarily out of the franchise itself, all things considered.
“What actor wouldn’t want to be Bond? But at 42, I might look a bit too old.” In an interview with Heat, later reported by Collider, Henry Cavill explained why his name is no longer – and will not be – among the candidates to become the next James Bond: “I didn’t reject the role, it just wasn’t the right time. (…) What actor wouldn’t want to be Bond? But at 42, I’d probably be seen as a bit too old to start a franchise now” – he said.
Then came the twist: “I’d love to be a Bond villain, though.” He later added: “I would love to be a Bond villain. If it were the right character, I think that would be a fascinating thing to explore.” After so many years of fan casting, it would certainly be interesting to watch him take on that antagonistic role instead.
Officially, very few details are known about the next James Bond film beyond reports indicating that Amazon MGM Studios wants a “fresh face”, preferably an actor in his late twenties or early thirties who can commit to the role for the next ten to fifteen years. That requirement rules out almost all of the names most recently discussed and opens the door to a less established choice: someone who can grow with the franchise rather than someone already expected to sell it – which, in truth, is not necessary here.
A villain role, on the other hand, does not demand that kind of long-term commitment, nor does it require any particular age range, and it is worth remembering that one of Cavill’s most acclaimed performances came as August Walker in 2018’s Mission: Impossible – Fallout. Maybe the time has come to push him back toward that kind of character. That is, of course, assuming he does not end up returning to superhero films instead as an opponent for Superman – as some fans keep demanding.
The next James Bond still has no star attached, but it does have a director: Denis Villeneuve – Dune, Blade Runner 2049. His appointment a few months ago caused a stir, and it is hard to imagine anything other than an ambitious new direction coming from that choice. It is likely that toward the end of the year, as Dune: Part Three gears up for release, he will start discussing his vision for Agent 007, and perhaps the actor who will play him will finally be revealed. Until then, all anyone can do is wait.
