Jeff Bezos Asks Fans: Who Should Be the Next James Bond?

In a surprising turn of events, Amazon has assumed full creative control over the James Bond franchise, prompting a significant shift as long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson step back. This development has sparked intense speculation and excitement among fans about who will don the iconic tuxedo next.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos took to X / Twitter to gauge fans' opinions on the next James Bond, and the response was overwhelmingly clear. While names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson were floated, Henry Cavill emerged as the fan-favorite choice to succeed Daniel Craig.

Following Bezos' tweet, Henry Cavill quickly became a trending topic, fueled by enthusiastic support from James Bond fans eager to see the Superman and Witcher star take on the role of 007. With Amazon now at the helm, speculation is rife about whether Cavill's chances have improved, especially given his involvement in Amazon's upcoming Warhammer 40,000 project.

Cavill's history with the Bond franchise adds an intriguing layer to the conversation. He famously auditioned for the role of James Bond for the 2006 film Casino Royale, an audition that director Martin Campbell described as "tremendous." Despite his impressive performance, Cavill was deemed too young at 23, and the role went to Daniel Craig.

In a 2023 interview with The Express, Campbell praised Cavill, stating, "He looked great in the audition. His acting was tremendous. 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."

Cavill himself reflected on the experience in an interview with Josh Horowitz, acknowledging, "It was ultimately down to, and this is what I've been told, it was just down to me and Daniel, and I was the younger option. They obviously went with Daniel and I think it was an amazing choice to go with Daniel. I probably wasn't ready at the time and I think Daniel did an incredible job over the past movies, so I'm happy they made that choice."

As the search for the next James Bond intensified following Daniel Craig's departure after No Time to Die, the question of Cavill's suitability resurfaced. Campbell noted, "By the time Daniel got to [No Time To Die] really he was at an age where one more would have been too old for him. I think they sign on for three Bonds, I’m not absolutely 100% certain of that. I know with Pierce [Brosnan] he had to sign on to three when we did him. So, that’s going to take, what, six years of your life maybe? I suspect Daniel [had] the same deal. And the next guy’s going to have to do that."

He added, "Henry’s 40, so by the time he’s done the third one he’s going to be 50. Anything beyond that’s two, three years per Bond. He’s in good shape Henry, he’s a good guy. He did very well in the audition, but ironically, he was too young."

With Amazon now steering the James Bond franchise, the possibility of Henry Cavill stepping into the role of 007 seems more tangible than ever, captivating fans and industry insiders alike.