Matthew Vaughn reveals why Henry Cavill lost the role of James Bond to someone else

Argylle director Matthew Vaughn recently revealed that Henry Cavill was almost cast in the iconic role of James Bond before Daniel Craig ultimately landed the part.

Vaughn shared this interesting tidbit during a discussion with Cavill and his Argylle co-star Sam Rockwell on Sirius XM. The conversation about their latest spy adventure quickly turned to the topic of another famous secret agent.

Vaughn explained that he first discovered Cavill through his audition for James Bond, and that at the time, Casino Royale director Martin Campbell actually preferred Cavill over Craig.

Vaughn recalled being at Pinewood Studios when both actors were being tested for the role, and it was there that he first took notice of Cavill.

He was surprised to learn that the director had favored Cavill’s audition over Craig’s, but that producer Barbara Broccoli had ultimately decided that Cavill was too young for the role.

Cavill, who was 23 at the time, was a finalist to play James Bond in the 2006 film Casino Royale, but ultimately lost out to Craig. Campbell praised Cavill’s screen test as “tremendous,” but admitted that he seemed too young for the part.

With Daniel Craig having left the franchise after No Time to Die, there has been much speculation about who will be the next actor to take on the role of James Bond.

During the discussion, Cavill remained tight-lipped about the possibility of him stepping into the iconic role, choosing instead to praise Craig for his work as Bond.

The next James Bond film is said to be a “complete reinvention” of the saga, with producers reportedly seeking a younger actor who can commit to the title role for at least a decade.

While Taron Egerton has ruled himself out, there have been numerous rumors swirling about who might be the next James Bond. Only time will tell who will ultimately fill the shoes of the legendary spy.