Henry Cavill is being thrust back into the James Bond casting conversation on social media thanks to a viral fake movie trailer partially created by AI that imagines the former “Superman” actor as 007 and Margot Robbie as his Bond girl. In four days, the AI-generated trailer garnered over 2.5 million views on YouTube and further stoked fan interest in Cavill being named the new Bond following Daniel Craig’s departure in 2021’s “No Time to Die.”

As fate would have it, Cavill’s next role is Gus March-Phillipps in Guy Ritchie’s “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.” March-Phillipps was a real historical figure who founded the British Army’s No. 62 Commando and who some believe inspired author Ian Fleming to create James Bond. Cavill’s history with 007 dates back to “Casino Royale,” when he auditioned for the role of 007 but lost to Craig.

 

During a recent appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show” to promote “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare,” the radio host noted the connection between Cavill’s latest character and 007 and asked the actor if he had any Bond casting updates.

 

“I have no idea. All I have to go off of is the rumors. I have the same information you have,” Cavill answered. “Maybe I’m too old now or maybe I’m not. We’ll see what the [producers’] plans are.”

“Casino Royale” director Martin Campbell revealed in an interview with Express U.K. last year that he greatly enjoyed Cavill’s original Bond audition.

“He looked great in the audition. His acting was tremendous,” Campbell said. “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.”

Despite Cavill’s fantastic audition, Campbell said he was not “favoring Henry” over Craig for the role.

“The way they work with Bond, and it’s pretty terrific, is when they decide on the actor and you audition — in our case, it was eight people — it’s very democratic,” Campbell said. “You sit around a table, eight or nine of you. It was myself and the producers, casting director, et cetera. And you go through the eight people and you put your hand up as you talk through each person and ultimately everybody has to be unanimous in their decision, if you see what I mean.”

 

Does Campbell think Cavill should be back in the mix for the new Bond? “Henry’s 40, so by the time he’s done the third one he’s going to be 50 and anything beyond that’s two, three years per Bond,” he said. “He’s in good shape Henry, he’s a good guy. He did very well in the audition, but ironically he was too young.”