James Bond director Martin Campbell reveals Henry Cavill gave a ‘tremendous’ audition for 007

Martin Campbell has revealed that Henry Cavill gave a ‘tremendous’ audition to play the next James Bond.

The Casino Royale director gushed that the Superman star ‘looked great’ when he auditioned for the role for the 2006 franchise reboot. 

Despite the role going to Daniel Craig, who went on to appear in four subsequent films, Quantum of Solace (2009), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015) and No Time to Die (2021), Martin said that Henry ‘would have made an excellent Bond’. 

He told The Daily Express: ‘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.’

Henry, who is now 40, would have been around 22-year-old when he auditioned while Daniel, now 55, was 38 for the relaunch of the 007 movies. 

Audition: The Casino Royale director  gushed that the Superman star ‘looked great’ when he auditioned for the role for the 2006 franchise reboot (Martin Campbell pictured in 2016)

The director explained that the audition process for picking a Bond is ‘pretty terrific’ as they had eight actors to choose from. 

He said: ‘You sit around a table, eight or nine of you. It was myself and the producers, casting director, etc. And you go through the eight people and you put your hand up as you talk through each person and ultimately everybody has to be unanimous in their decision, if you see what I mean.’

Martin went on to say it is now ‘ironic’ because Henry may now be too old to play 007 as he might have to sign on for ‘three films which take six years of your life’ to film. 

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

Martin explained that Daniel would have ‘really been too old’ to do another film following his retirement after No Time To Die. 

Despite not landing Bond, Henry went on to portray DC’s Superman in 2013’s Man of Steel and reprised his role in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Justice League (2017) (and its 2021 director’s cut).

The search for the next James Bond is currently still ongoing and casting director Debbie McWilliams recently revealed they have ruled out younger actors as they ‘didn’t have the mental capacity’ for the iconic part.

Among the most commonly mentioned candidates are Bridgerton star Regé-Jean Page, Tom Hardy and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

Gushing: Despite the role going to Daniel Craig, who went on to appear in four subsequent films, Quantum of Solace (2009), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015) and No Time to Die (2021), Martin said that Henry ‘would have made an excellent Bond’ (Daniel Craig pictured in 2020)

Favourite: The director said ‘if Daniel didn’t exist, Henry would have made an excellent Bond. He looked terrific, he was in great physical shape…very handsome’