Superman actor Henry Cavill recalled his unsuccessful audition for the role of James Bond in Casino Royale.
Years after helming Pierce Brosnan’s first outing as James Bond in GoldenEye, director Martin Campbell was tasked with rebooting the 007 franchise in 2006’s Casino Royale. The search for a new actor to replace Brosnan as James Bond resulted in Daniel Craig being cast as the new 007, but eventual Superman actor Henry Cavill was close to landing the role himself.
During an interview with Men’s Health, Henry Cavill reflected on his screen-test for James Bond, for which he had to re-enact a scene from one of the Sean Connery films while wrapped in a towel. While admitting that he could have prepared better for his James Bond audition, Henry Cavill recalled the comment Martin Campbell made about his physique that he actually appreciated:
“I probably could have prepared better. I remember the director, Martin Campbell, saying, ‘Looking a little chubby there, Henry.’ I didn’t know how to train or diet. And I’m glad Martin said something, because I respond well to truth. It helps me get better.”
The James Bond role wasn’t the only major character Henry Cavill would miss the chance to play, as the actor had also unsuccessfully auditioned for lead roles in Twilight and a different Superman film that was eventually abandoned. However, while he was not thrilled about losing these roles, Henry Cavill explained that he had become accustomed to rejection at this point:
“I wasn’t ecstatic about not getting these things, but I was so used to disappointment from the acting business, and also from boarding school. ‘No, you’re not good enough’—that wasn’t anything new to me.”
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Henry Cavill’s future as Superman is currently in doubt amid reports on contentious contract negotiations and Warner Bros. and DC planning to focus their efforts on introducing Supergirl. While his planned Superman cameo in Zachary Levi’s Shazam! was cut after negotiations to reprise his role fell through, Henry Cavill recently stated that he has not given up on playing the character.
Meanwhile, the search for a new James Bond will begin again when Daniel Craig retires from the role after No Time to Die:
Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.
Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga from a script written by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, No Time to Die includes Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw, Lea Seydoux, Rory Kinnear, Jeffrey Wright, as well as franchise newcomers Rami Malek, Ana de Armas, Lashana Lynch, Billy Magnussen, David Dencik and Dali Benssalah.
No Time To Die opens in theaters on April 8, 2020.
Source: Men’s Health
