Henry Cavill got a surprise revelation about his first Bond auditions in the 2000s while out on the promotional trail for the new spy action comedy film Argylle.
During an appearance on SiriusXM’s The Spotlight With Jessica Shaw the former Superman star was joined by Argylle director Matthew Vaughn, where inevitably the topic turned to arguably the most famous of all spies within the storytelling genres.
While disappointed in not landing the Bond gig during the search for the new 007, Cavill did benefit from one of those unforeseen silver linings in life.
This one happened nearly two-decades ago when Vaughn had a conversation with Daniel Craig about how the Bond auditions were going at the time, and the actor pointed out that Cavill was also in the running.
It was that meeting that put the Superman actor on Vaughn’s radar, which ultimately led to the leading man working with Vaughn for the first time on the fantasy adventure film Stardust (2007) that he directed and co-wrote with Jane Goldman.
Henry Cavill, 40, seemed to be surprised when he learned that the search for the new 007 James Bond in 2000’s came down to him and Daniel Craig during an interview on SiriusXM’s The Spotlight With Jessica Shaw
Knowing Cavill would be hesitant in revealing too much since he’s reportedly back in the running again for 007, Vaughn took the lead in telling the story of how he learned of the American actor.
‘It was really bizarre because when Henry was auditioning for Bond, I was at Pinewood [Studios] and Daniel [Craig] was as well, right? At the same time, and I’d go off and meet with Daniel and he’d say what’s going on. He said, “There’s this young guy, Henry Cavill, who I think they’re seeing as well,”‘ the filmmaker recalled of the conversation.
While he didn’t land the coveted Bond role, Cavill’s audition put him on Vaughn’s radar, and thus led them to work together for the first time on his film Stardust (2007).
It’s at this point that The King’s Man writer and director seemed to surprise Cavill when he told him that the auditions came down to him and Craig, but the producer’s choice won out.
‘I was like, “Well, who’s this guy who got down to the last two for Bond?” So, that’s how I discovered you because you were auditioning,’ he shared.
‘I know that the director [Martin Campbell] preferred your audition, but Barbara [Broccoli] preferred Layer Cake, just so you know,’ he told Cavill, who was sitting a few feet to his right, in a reference to his own crime film Layer Cake (2004) that he directed with Craig in the lead.
The filmmaker followed up to reveal the producer also thought ‘you were too young,’ Vaughn shared, before adding, ‘I probably shouldn’t have said that but Broccoli’s not that keen on me anyway so what do I have to lose.’
During the search for the new Bond, which is a 10-12 year commitment, the former Superman star would have been in his early 20s at the time, while Craig was in his mid-30s.
Argylle director Matthew Vaughn maintains he talked with Daniel Craig during 007 bond auditions in 2000s and it was the actor who told him it was down to him and Henry Cavill
‘He looked great in the audition. His acting was tremendous,’ Campbell said in an interview with Express UK. ‘And look, if Daniel didn’t exist, Henry would have made an excellent Bond. He looked terrific, he was in great physical shape… very handsome, very chiseled. He just looked a little young at that time back then.’
As much as Vaughn was being open and honest about the auditions, Cavill tried to be careful about what he reveals, which is likely due to him likely being in the running for the new Bond now that Daniel Craig has exited after five installments.
The Man of Steel actor remained guarded in not saying too much, due to him likely being in the running to play Bond again, however, he did address rumors that the role is cursed.
‘I don’t think there’s a curse for those kinds of things. I do think Daniel did an absolutely amazing job,’ the New Jersey native, now 40, said of Craig, 55. ‘He and everyone else involved breathed new life into the franchise, which did it wonders.’
Daniel Craig, now 55, starred as James Bond in five installments that began with Casino Royale (2006) and ended with No Time To Die (2021)
After Casino Royale (2006), Craign would also play the handsome and clever British spy in Quantum Of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015) and No Time to Die (2021).
Along with Cavill some of the other actors who are rumored to be in the running this go-around include Tom Hardy, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Regé-Jean Page and Henry Golding, Idris Elba and Richard Madden, among others.
After having went public in 2021 to reveal that the hunt for a new James Bond wouldn’t begin for a couple of years, an official announcement could be coming more sooner than later.
Argylle is set to be release in the UK on February 1 and in the U.S. on February 2
