Jeff Bezos Seeks Fan Input on Next James Bond, Clear Choice Emerges

Following the surprising announcement that Amazon has taken full creative control over the James Bond franchise, with long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson stepping back, the burning question remains: who should step into the iconic role of 007?

Amazon's CEO, Jeff Bezos, took to X/Twitter to pose this very question to fans, and the response was overwhelmingly clear. While names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (who was rumored to be a top contender) were thrown into the mix, the fan-favorite emerged as Henry Cavill.

The online fervor for Henry Cavill was immediate and intense, propelling him to trend across social media platforms. This surge in support comes on the heels of Cavill's involvement in Amazon's ambitious Warhammer 40,000 project, where he is set to star and produce. This has led many to speculate whether his chances of donning the 007 mantle have increased with Amazon's new role in the franchise.

Cavill's history with the Bond series is well-documented. He famously auditioned for the role in 2006's Casino Royale, an audition that director Martin Campbell described as "tremendous." Despite his impressive performance, Cavill was ultimately deemed too young at the age of 23, and the role went to Daniel Craig.

In a 2023 interview with The Express, Campbell reflected on Cavill's audition, stating, "He looked great in the audition. His acting was tremendous. And 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."

Cavill himself has spoken about the experience in an interview with Josh Horowitz, acknowledging the close competition with Craig: "It was ultimately down to, and this is what I’ve been told, it was just down to me and Daniel, and I was the younger option. They obviously went with Daniel, and I think it was an amazing choice to go with Daniel. I probably wasn’t ready at the time, and I think Daniel did an incredible job over the past movies, so I’m happy they made that choice."

As the search for the next James Bond continued after Daniel Craig's departure following No Time to Die, Campbell noted the age considerations for the role: "By the time Daniel got to [No Time To Die] really, he was at an age where one more would have been too old for him." He further speculated on the contract terms, suggesting that actors typically commit to three films: "I think they sign on for three Bonds, I’m not absolutely 100% certain of that. I know with Pierce [Brosnan] he had to sign on to three when we did him. So, that’s going to take, what, six years of your life maybe? I suspect Daniel [had] the same deal. And the next guy’s going to have to do that."

Reflecting on Cavill's suitability for the role now, Campbell added, "Henry’s 40, so by the time he’s done the third one he’s going to be 50. Anything beyond that’s two, three years per Bond. He’s in good shape, Henry, he’s a good guy. He did very well in the audition, but ironically, he was too young."

With Amazon now at the helm, the future of James Bond and who will be the next to carry the iconic Walther PPK remains a topic of intense speculation and excitement among fans.