TV & Showbiz
Henry Cavill’s audition tape for James Bond has been leaked online – and people have thoughts…
People can't seem to agree whether it's 'terrific' or 'terrible'. Time for you to weigh in.
Danny Jones -
11th February 2025 
In case you haven’t already seen it, the man who has been linked with being the next James Bond for what feels like the past decade, Henry Cavill, has seen his audition tape for the role leaked online.
Well, it’s an old tape from when he was first put up for the role but still, we always love watching these.
The Superman, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and former Witcher star has been in contention to replace Daniel Craig as Bond for almost as long as Idris Elba has/was, and while the latter may have drifted from the conversation somewhat in the past few years, Cavill’s only seems to have grown.
Now a fully-fledged Hollywood star, his career’s come a long way since the days of his long-haired audition for 007 nearly two whole decades ago…
Yes, what you see above is a video by YouTuber Ron South revealing Henry Cavill’s audition for Casino Royale: a remake of the 1967 original film released back in 2006 which effectively rebooted Bond for the modern, more serious era.
Uploaded from an original VHS audition tape filmed just a decade into Barbara Broccoli and co’s tenure in charge of the franchise, having taken over from her father in 1995 (we have no idea how he got his hands on, so don’t ask), you get to see a good seven minutes of Henry Cavill as James Bond.
The first thing to note is that besides the flowing mane of dark hair, the soon-to-be leading man was much younger during this recording; he was just 22 when the tape was made and considered too young for the part at the time.
Ironically, many believe Cavill might be at the very least verging on too old, even though all three of Pierce Brosnan (42), Roger Moore (45) and Timothy Dalton (41 – the same age) were older than him when they first took up the tuxedo and very specific taste for martinis.
Regardless of whether he is the ‘right age’ now or not, the clips being leaked online have divided opinion, to say the least, with many suggesting that while he may not have been ready for the role then, he and his acting chops have matured significantly in the 20 years that have passed.
Henry is barely suited to ACTING if we’re keeping it real
— Dalton Layne (@DaltonLayne90) February 7, 2025
Based on that audition hahahahahhaha
— Best in the World (@ghostsofballard) February 7, 2025
Henry Cavill doesn't have an ounce of the charisma of Brosnan. May he never be Bond. https://t.co/dXCxTYpFuB pic.twitter.com/uHFxsD73Zd
— Bond, Only Bond (@BondOnlyBond) February 8, 2025
It’s also worth stating that opinions are just that and some are definitely less popular than others; for instance, many in the comments underneath social media posts said Daniel Craig – the man who famously did get the job back in 2006 – was “overrated” and “only had one good film.”
Come on, Craig wasn’t even our first Bond and you’ve got to admit even if he isn’t your favourite, he was excellent and gave the series a refreshing, grittier spin.
But wait, we haven’t even got to the best part yet: Ron South has also uploaded four other actors’ James Bond audition tapes besides Henry Cavill which you can find HERE – all of which give off a very different vibe. The question is, were any of them right for the iconic character, or are they perhaps now?
What did you make of this glimpse at Henry Cavill as James Bond in his old audition tape and you think he’s still the ‘favourite’ in your eyes for the world’s most famous spy?
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Featured Images — EON Productions Limited/MGM/Ron South (via YouTube)
