Jeff Bezos Polls Fans on Next James Bond, Clear Favorite Emerges

In a surprising turn of events, Amazon has assumed full creative control over the James Bond franchise, with long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson stepping back. This shift has sparked widespread speculation and excitement about who will be the next actor to step into the iconic role of 007.

Following this announcement, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos took to X / Twitter to pose the pivotal question: who should be the next James Bond? The response from fans was swift and decisive, with a clear favorite emerging amidst a pool of notable contenders.

While actors like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (who was previously rumored to be a frontrunner) received mentions, it was Henry Cavill who captured the hearts of the Bond community. Known for his roles as Superman and in "The Witcher," Cavill's name trended online, reflecting the strong fan support he enjoys.

The enthusiasm for Cavill is not without reason. His connection to Amazon has deepened with his commitment to star in and produce the eagerly awaited "Warhammer 40,000" project. This association raises questions about whether his chances of becoming Bond have improved under Amazon's new stewardship.

Cavill's history with the Bond franchise is well-documented. He famously auditioned for the role in 2006's "Casino Royale," and though he impressed director Martin Campbell, who described the audition as "tremendous," Cavill was ultimately deemed too young at the time, losing out 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 acknowledged the close call in an interview with Josh Horowitz, saying, "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 intensified after Daniel Craig's departure with "No Time to Die," the conversation around Cavill's potential has only grown. Campbell noted, "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. 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."

He further elaborated on Cavill's age and suitability, saying, "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."