Henry Cavill could’ve had another iconic role up his sleeve if only he was a little older. While Daniel Craig perfectly portrayed James Bond’s role across five films, it has also been known that Cavill was almost cast as the suave spy.
‘Argylle’ director Matthew Vaughn reveals why it didn’t work out with Cavill, so as the audience could get the suave Craig as 007.
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Henry Cavill As James Bond: The Dream That Didn’t Turn Into Reality
A decade after Daniel Craig stepped into the shoes of James Bond, it was revealed that there were two actors who were running for the role.
‘Argylle‘ director Matthew Vaughn revealed to fans- and Cavill himself, the real reason why the directors eventually passed on him to give the role to Daniel Craig instead.
Director Martin Campbell liked Cavill’s audition more than Craig’s. But producer Barbara Broccoli picked Craig instead for the role because Cavill was too young.
Talking about how he first discovered Henry Cavill, Vaughn said, “It was really bizarre because, when Henry was auditioning for Bond, I was at Pinewood [Studios], and Daniel was as well, at the same time, and I’d go off and meet with Daniel and he’d say what’s going on. He says there’s this young guy Henry Cavill I think they’re seeing as well. And…we hadn’t done Stardust yet. … But that’s how you came into my radar. I was thinking, well who’s this guy who got down to the last two for Bond? So that’s how I discovered you”.
“And I know that the director preferred your audition, but Barbara [Broccoli] preferred Layer Cake. … And they decided you were too young” Vaughn added.
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Daniel Craig As James Bond Is Iconic
There’s no doubt that no one could’ve been a better Bond in the recent Bond films than Daniel Craig himself. The actor flawlessly got into the skin of the most famous spy across Hollywood. But how exactly did he land the role?
Producer Barbara Broccoli had her eyes set on Craig, thanks to his wonderful acting in past projects. Commenting on his performance she said, “Everything he did, he always became the character and disappeared into the role, but he also had an unbelievable amount of charisma. I always say, ‘He’s lit from within,’ because whatever scene he’s in, whether it’s on the stage or on screen, he’s completely captivating. He is a great character actor, but in the body of a movie star, and it’s a very unique thing.”
Craig’s performance as Jesuit priest John Ballard in Shekhar Kapur’s 1998 period drama ‘Elizabeth‘ made Broccoli realize that he’s the perfect Bond. She recalled, “I remember thinking, ‘Oh my God, he’s the guy,’ when he was in Elizabeth, walking down the corridor. That was the moment I felt it in my gut. When your whole life is James Bond, some part of you is always looking for, Who could play the role? Daniel just eats up the screen. He’s a truly remarkable actor.”
Talking about Craig as Bond, director Martin Campbell said, “He fitted right into that tone. Apart from being a fine actor, he had that rugged, tough look. It’s what Fleming wanted. He always said [American singer and actor] Hoagy Carmichael was the perfect looking guy to play Bond, and Daniel completely slotted into that concept.”
The rest, of course, is history.
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