Daniel Craig is undeniably a charismatic actor, showcasing remarkable talent from the outset of his career, notably with his portrayal of James Bond in Casino Royale and subsequent films. His tenure as Bond has been marked by widespread acclaim, leaving an enduring impact on the franchise. Craig redefined the iconic character through his suave demeanor, captivating action sequences, and compelling performances.
Daniel Craig starred in five films as part of the James Bond franchise over the years. Beginning with Casino Royale in 2006, he continued with Quantum of Solace in 2008, followed by Skyfall in 2012, Spectre in 2015, and concluding his run with No Time to Die in 2021.
As speculation swirls regarding the next actor to don the mantle of 007, some voices in the industry, including a star from Godzilla vs. Kong, advocate for Henry Cavill to assume the role.
Eiza González, co-starring with Henry Cavill in Guy Ritchie’s upcoming film The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, believes Cavill is the ideal choice to succeed as James Bond. In the movie, based on real historical events surrounding the creation of the Special Operations Executive during World War II, Cavill portrays team leader Gus March-Phillipps, reportedly a real-life inspiration for Bond. González, who plays intelligence agent Marjorie Stewart in the film, expresses her support for Cavill taking on the iconic role of 007.
Reflecting on Cavill’s portrayal and undeniable charisma, Eiza González shares with Entertainment Weekly,
“It’s hard not to look at Henry Cavill and think of James Bond, to be really honest. Obviously, I’m part of the group of people that are rooting for him to get it hopefully, if that was a possibility.”
She joins others in rooting for Cavill to potentially step into the coveted role, acknowledging his suitability for the part.
Despite a recent report suggesting that Aaron Taylor-Johnson, known for his role in Kraven the Hunter, had been offered the role to succeed Daniel Craig as James Bond, a source familiar with the matter informed EW that no official offer had been extended.
Before Daniel Craig was ultimately chosen as James Bond, various actors, including Henry Cavill, were in contention for the role. Matthew Vaughn, director of Kingsman and Argylle, revealed that Martin Campbell, the director of Casino Royale, favored Cavill for the part. However, the ultimate decision to cast Daniel Craig as the iconic MI6 agent was made by James Bond series producer Barbara Broccoli.
During an appearance on Sirius XM, Vaughn shared a story about being at Pinewood Studios where both Henry Cavill and Daniel Craig auditioned for James Bond. Craig mentioned to Vaughn that Cavill was also testing for the role, ultimately drawing Vaughn’s attention and leading to Cavill starring in his 2007 film Stardust.
Vaughn mentioned that despite Martin Campbell favoring Henry Cavill’s audition, Barbara Broccoli was persuaded to cast Daniel Craig after witnessing his performance in Vaughn’s 2004 film, Layer Cake. Vaughn also acknowledged that there were considerations that Cavill may have been viewed as “too young” for the role.
“I probably shouldn’t have said that, but the Broccolis aren’t that keen on me anyway, so what have I got to lose?” Vaughn said. “But he would be excellent. But it’s unfair for him to discuss about a project that he might be involved with or not and ruin it because of a question.”
Campbell himself shared with Sunday Express that the final decision for James Bond came down to Cavill and Craig, admitting that “none of us making the casting decision were 100 percent sure.” He added, “Perhaps Henry Cavill was too young for it then; he was 22 at the time we auditioned for Casino Royale.” Nonetheless, we’ll have to see if Cavill will become the next James Bond in the future.