Despite being one of the front-runners for the role, Henry Cavill won't be the next James Bond because he's too famous, according to an expert. No Time To Die, the upcoming 25th Bond film, will be Daniel Craig's final film in the franchise, after owning the role since 2006's Casino Royale. Despite being an unpopular choice initially, Craig's tenure as Bond has been one of the most successful, and finding a replacement will be incredibly difficult thanks to the high standard set by the actor.
There are a number of contenders, though, including Idris Elba, Richard Madden, Tom Hardy, Jamie Bell and a whole host of others. However, Cavill has been one of the favorites for the role for a long time, with the muscular British actor jumping to the front of the queue after appearing in Mission: Impossible - Fallout. Cavill has also repeatedly said he'd love to play the iconic spy. He's also got the advantage of being a popular actor already, having been Superman and also appearing in Netflix's popular fantasy adaptation The Witcher. However, one expert believes Cavill's established popularity counts against him and thinks he won't be the next James Bond.
Speaking to The Express in England, Dr. Ian Kinane, editor of the International Journal of James Bond Studies, says that Cavill is too big to play Bond. He believes the actor's high profile and role in the DCEU will actually preclude him from taking on the mantle, as the producers tend to favor actors who aren't already associated with other iconic roles. Kinane believes other British actors, like Bell or Madden, both of whom are popular but not yet huge stars, would be more appropriate for the role. Kinane admits, though, that the actor who does get cast will likely be a surprise, unlike previous Bonds like Pierce Brosnan and Timothy Dalton, who stepped into the role after being groomed for it and, crucially, having auditioned multiple times before. You can read his full comments below:
Everyone was shocked when it was blond Bond Daniel Craig. But everyone saw Pierce Brosnan coming because he auditioned years and years before. Everyone saw Timothy Dalton coming again because he auditioned years and years before. [But Cavill is] too big [to play Bond]. Unfortunately it will not be Idris Elba, even though he is perfect. Jamie Bell is a good choice because he performed in a movie called Film Stars Only Die in Liverpool which was produced by Barbara Broccoli. And Jamie Bell is at the right age that Daniel Craig was when he stepped into the role, so there's potential there. I'd also say perhaps James Norton, he was in War and Peace and played the vicar in Grantchester, but he has a particular kind of recognizable Britishness that melded I think with a potential to be hardened in a much the same way Daniel Craig has. And then maybe as a slight outsider we might say Richard Madden who was in Bodyguard, as what was Bodyguard but an audition for James Bond really?
Despite Kinane's belief, though, it's hard to imagine the Bond producers, EON, not wanting a high-profile star to take on the role. Cavill is clearly on their list, having auditioned for the role at the same time as Craig, and casting him would immediately lend be a popular choice. He has a large built in fan base thanks to his high-profile roles, and there's no doubt that would turn into high box office for any Bond films he appears in. Regardless, Kinane seems convinced he's too famous, a fact which would also rule out contenders like Elba, Hardy and Tom Hiddleston.
Whoever ends up getting cast will face a whole host of challenges that no other Bond actor has had to contend with. The future of the James Bond franchise is fluid, especially now that its home studio MGM could be up for sale, meaning Bond 26 will be made at a new studio, perhaps even a streaming service. Add to that the expectation that normally comes with the role, and it's going to be a tough task. One which Cavill won't have to worry about if Kinane is to be believed.
Source: The Express
