With the 25th Bond Film, No Time to Die, set for release in April this year, it's the last time we'll see Daniel Craig behind the wheel of the famous Aston Martin.
No Time to Die will be Craig's fifth and final outing as the agent with the double-O status, which has led to many (read: millions) of fans to speculate as to who will fill Bond's Crockett & Jones Oxfords next. One of the most popular predictions? Henry Cavill.
It's not exactly a surprising prediction. Cavill ticks all the boxes — young, British, in great physical condition and at the right point in his career to catapult himself into an iconic role. But there's one big hurdle, as Cavill addressed in a recent interview with Men's Health.
The Hollywood Reporter claimed in 2018 that Superman would be recast, following the somewhat disappointing reception and returns of Batman v Superman and Justice League, relative to Marvel’s Avengers films. Confirmation that co-star Ben Affleck would be superseded as the Dark Knight by Robert Pattinson has also been widely interpreted as kryptonite for Cavill. So, will he play Superman again?
“I can’t tell you anything concrete there,” said Cavill. “But what I can tell you is that, in reference to me, 99 per cent of what you’re reading on the internet probably isn’t right. I can’t say anything, obviously. But I very much love the character, and I am very much not walking away from it.”
The last time 007’s dinner jacket was vacated, ahead of 2006’s Casino Royale, a 22-year-old Cavill reportedly finished runner-up in the casting process, his youth cited (and, according to the casting directors, weight) as a reason for his eventual rejection. But Cavill now has age on his side (at 36, he is a year younger than Craig when he was cast), he’s well versed in fronting tent-pole movies, and he may have a Superman-sized gap in his schedule.
“With the whole Bond process, I screen-tested many, many moons ago and it was, as far as I know, down to Daniel and myself – maybe one other,” says Cavill. “I think Daniel – sorry, Mr Craig – has done an incredible job of being Bond. And if it is indeed his last one, then the playing field is open. There are no conversations just yet, but we’ll see what happens. It would be a great, fun role to play.”
Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more delivered straight to your inbox.
Jamie Millar is a freelance journalist and regular Men’s Health contributor, writing about style, grooming, fitness and culture. Follow @mrjamiemillar
Ed Cooper is the former Deputy Digital Editor at Men’s Health UK, writing and editing about anything you want to know about — from tech to fitness, mental health to style, food and so much more. Ed has run the MH gauntlet, including transformations, marathons and er website re-designs. He’s awful at pub sports, though. Follow him: @EA_Cooper
