Summary
In huge news, Amazon MGM’s creative control dispute withJames Bondproducers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli has come to a shocking end. The longstandingJames Bondproducers are now handing control of the intellectual property over to Amazon MGM, allowing the production company to, among other things, choose the next actor to portray Agent 007.
According to the Deadline, Amazon MGM will take creative control of the franchise,while Wilson and Broccoli remain co-owners of James Bond’s IP. This is a gigantic development, as the most relevant recent news to surface fromJames Bondis a Wall Street Journal report that Broccoli referred to the people at Amazon MGM as “f*****g idiots.” With Amazon MGM’s newfound freedom, there’s one man that rises to the top of previously named options to fill Bond’s shoes - and he’s as solid as steel.
Waiting For Superman
A host of potential suitors for the sharply dressed role have cropped up since 2021’sNo Time To Die, each of them uniquely pre-tailored for the job. One of the more prominent names thrown in the hat has been Idris Elba. Unfortunately, he likely wouldn’t take the role since confirming he’s soured on the idea after race became a focal point for his consideration. Other A-List names such asTom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, and Aaron Taylor Johnsonare coincidentally all Christopher Nolan alumni, as well as apparent front-runners at varying points.
Tom Hardy has the grit and muscle to offer up a more imposing Bond. Cillian Murphy would be fantastic as a well-kept actor known to disappear into his characters, and Aaron Taylor Johnson has the dashing good looks and impressive abs as shown off inKraven The Hunter. To Taylor’s chagrin, that film’s colossal failure may have officially taken his name out of the running.
Both Hardy and Murphy would surely bring appropriate esteem to the character,but they’re also each pushing 50 years old, and it’s hard to think Amazon MGM aren’t looking to revitalize the Bond with youth. The most likely option for the world’s next James Bond is a considerably younger, silver-screen-proven, British Crown jewel of an actor who is indeed prepared to swoop in and save the day. Not to mention, Nolan has expressed his interest in directing James Bond, a perfect film to induct Henry Cavill into Nolan’s pantheon of leading men.
Never Say Never Again
Henry Cavill is 41 years old. While he’s no spring chicken, he is a physical specimen above all other Bond wannabes and could easily pass for a man in his 30’s - which is allegedly the age range Amazon MGM is aiming for. In 2005, Cavill auditioned forJames Bondin a role that ultimately ended up going to Daniel Craig. Besides the fact that he looked almost identical to the way he looks now, in his audition video, he’s notably, well, stiff. He may have been relying a bit too much on his looks then.
Today, his audition tape would surely be less ‘handsome guy at the bar,’ and more ‘esteemed gentleman on a mission.’ After all, he’s since played an assortment of debonair spies on the big screen in films such asThe Man From U.N.C.L.E.(2015),Mission Impossible: Fallout(2018), andGuy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare(2024). In the latter film, Cavill played Gus March-Phillips, the real-life founder of the British Army’s no. 62 Commando and inspiration behind the James Bond character.
Henry Cavill has all but proven he can be Bond since his first go-around at auditioning to be the special agent. It’d be a shame not to also mention he once graced the silver screen as Superman inMan Of Steel (2013) and again in Zach Snyder’sJustice League(2021). To many comic fans, he’s the quintessential Superman, even rivaling the late great Christopher Reeve. Cavill has assumed some of the most prestigious roles in cinema, including another British icon as Sherlock Holmes in Netflix’sEnola Holmesfranchise.
If Amazon MGM knows what’s good for them,they’ll strongly consider Cavill as the next 007. It does appear that they do, as they’ve already inked Cavill to star in a live-actionVoltronadaption, based on the classic 1980s Japanese anime series, and the upcomingWarhammer 40,000TV series, based on a miniature war game Cavill is famously fond of. Cavill already has a great working relationship with Amazon MGM. What’s another sure bet to include him in now that they’re calling the shots?
The War Is Not Enough
Although Cavill is already committed to a couple of current Amazon MGM projects, including theWarhammerseries which announced development just last December, he’s possibly only that much closer to wearing Bond’s legendary tuxedo. Barring schedule conflicts, which it seems would only be imposed by the same production company he’ll potentially sign with, Cavill should be the nextJames Bond. He’s shown time and time again that he’s the most suave, fit, and versatile super-spy Hollywood has to offer, and he’s British to boot. God save the queen. Get Cavill on her majesty’s Secret Service.
