James Bond audition tapes from 2005 have surfaced online, showcasing Henry Cavill's take on the iconic 007 role before he was ultimately outshined by Daniel Craig. According to Games Radar, these intriguing clips were shared on the Ron South YouTube channel, run by an enthusiastic filmmaker with 1,890 subscribers. The channel also featured auditions from other notable actors such as Sam Worthington, Rupert Friend, and Anthony Starr.
Among these, Henry Cavill's audition has captured the most attention over the years. Many fans and industry insiders, including Casino Royale director Martin Campbell, have praised Cavill's performance. Campbell himself described Cavill's audition as "tremendous" and reportedly favored him for the role. However, the final decision favored Daniel Craig, as preferred by other key decision-makers.
Despite missing out on the Bond role, Cavill embraced a spy persona in the film Argylle, where he starred alongside a talented ensemble including Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, and Catherine O’Hara. Unfortunately, Argylle did not fare well with critics, receiving a disappointing 4/10 from IGN despite its impressive cast.
Cavill's career remains robust and diverse, with standout roles such as Superman in the DC universe, Geralt of Rivia in Netflix's The Witcher, and numerous other acclaimed performances.