Henry Cavill’s ‘James Bond’ Audition Tape Resurfaces After 20 Years

Two decades after losing the part to Daniel Craig, Henry Cavill’s James Bond audition video from ‘Casino Royale’ has been rediscovered.

The British actor is still a strong candidate to take Craig’s position as the next 007, and many fans are even more certain that he would be the ideal choice after seeing his portrayal of the role.

A user named Ron South posted the audition video to YouTube, claiming to have discovered it in a studio recycling bin. It features Cavill with long, slicked-back hair, delivering some of Bond’s most famous lines from Pierce Brosnan’s original ‘GoldenEye’. With a confident “Bond, James Bond” introduction, he orders the traditional “vodka martini, shaken, not stirred.” Despite his excellent performance, Craig was eventually cast in the part. Craig went on to play the lead in five Bond movies, the last of which was ‘No Time To Die’ in 2021.

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The footage has received a lot of social media shares since it was made public. Although some fans think Cavill might not have been the best candidate for Bond in the past, many contend that he is now the best option. The timing of the tape’s release may be a clue that he is finally ready to assume the job, according to several responses on X (previously Twitter). Some agree that Craig was the best option at the time, but they believe Cavill is a better fit now.

Cavill responded to long-running Bond speculations in April 2023, acknowledging that although he has heard the stories, he does not have any inside knowledge. Additionally, he hinted that he could be “too old” for the position at this point, but he did not rule out other options.

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According to sources in March 2024, Aaron Taylor-Johnson was offered the part by EON Productions after impressing producer Barbara Broccoli during a screen test. However, neither Taylor-Johnson nor the production team have formally confirmed the reports, and he has consistently refrained from commenting on them.

–Farheen Ali