Fans of Henry Cavill are wondering if he should try out for James Bond once more.
Henry Cavill was once the new face of DCEU‘s Superman, a role that has seen many actors become superstars, like Christopher Reeve and Brandon Routh. And then, after a short hiatus of limited prominence, he suddenly came back on the scene as Geralt of Rivia in Netflix’s The Witcher.
Of course, Cavill has now exited The Witcher and is being replaced by Liam Hemsworth, and he’s also walked away from playing Superman. Moves that are making fans anxious about his future and if they will get to see him in anything significant again. (They will.)
But what most people do not know is that before Henry Cavill became Superman, he had actually wanted to play the role of James Bond. Unfortunately, the director did not think he was the right fit for the movie, and he did not make the cut. But now that Daniel Craig has exited the James Bond franchise, and it looks like there’s an opening for a new Bond in town, fans of Cavill are wondering if he should give the character another go.
Henry Cavill Was Rejected As James Bond Because Of His Weight
In an interview with Men’s Health, Henry Cavill revealed that he auditioned for the role of James Bond when he was 23 years old and didn’t have many significant roles under his belt.
It was around the time Pierce Brosnan had exited the franchise and they were looking for a new Bond. And since Cavill had always been a fan of James Bond, he thought he should give the audition a shot.
The audition was for Casino Royale and candidates were required to walk out of the bathroom wearing just a towel.
“I remember the director, Martin Campbell, saying, ‘Looking a little chubby there, Henry,’” Cavill told the magazine. The comment stuck with him and he was disappointed, but he didn’t know what to do about his weight at that time.
“I probably could have prepared better… I didn’t know how to train or diet.”
The role ultimately went to Daniel Craig who was James Bond for the next five movies, with his last one being No Time to Die in 2021.
Henry Cavill Was Bullied In School And Called A Mean Name
Although most people know him as the well-sculpted, muscular Superman (and Geralt of Rivia), Henry Cavill looked very different when he was growing up.
“I was fat,” he told Vanity Fair. “I was Fat Cavill.”
He didn’t provide many details of his school days but said that he went to a boarding school and would call home four times a day, which made him an easy target for bullies.
He only lost most of his weight, nearly 21 pounds, once he landed his first role at the age of 17 in an adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo.
Cavill calls himself a homebody who does not like going to events and prefers staying at home and engaging in geeky hobbies like reading fantasy series or playing video games. He also loves fried food.
“If you’re looking for healthy, the mahi mahi is good with the spinach and the steamed broccoli… But I keep wanting to get the fish and chips.”
Unfortunately, because of his career and the roles he has to play, Cavill is unable to indulge in just about anything he likes. For example, he had to follow a strict diet when he was playing Superman and had to pair that with high-intensity workouts to get into shape for the role.
“I’m representing important characters here,” he told Men’s Health. “I don’t want to be a dumpy Geralt or a fat Superman.”
But Cavill did mention to Vanity Fair that his experience in school helped shape Superman’s inner world. “My version of Superman is essentially of a guy who has spent his whole life alone.”
Cavill Is Good At Taking Constructive Criticism And Feedback
When Martin Campbell, the director of Casino Royale, told him he was looking a bit chubby, Henry Cavill did not take it personally, even though he was disappointed that he didn’t get the role of James Bond.
“I’m glad Martin said something, because I respond well to truth. It helps me get better.”
After losing out on James Bond, Henry Cavill auditioned for leads in other well-known movies like Twilight and Tristan + Isolde, but did not get the parts.
He finally made his breakthrough in acting by landing the role of Charles Brandon in the TV series The Tudors and then the lead role of Theseus in the movie Immortals. And once he had a good streak, he eventually landed the role of DCEU‘s Superman in Man of Steel.
So now that he has exited The Witcher and has hung up the red cape, fans are wondering if he should try for James Bond once again. Maybe he’ll have better luck this time around.
