Amazon Boss Jeff Bezos Asks Who Fans Would Pick as the Next James Bond, and the Answer Is Loud and Clear

In a surprising turn of events, Amazon has assumed full creative control over the iconic James Bond franchise, marking a significant shift as long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson step back. This development has sparked a flurry of speculation and excitement among fans about who should take on the mantle of 007 next.

Jeff Bezos, Amazon's head honcho, took to social media platform X / Twitter to gauge fans' preferences for the next James Bond. The response was overwhelmingly in favor of Henry Cavill, known for his roles as Superman and in "The Witcher." Despite other notable names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson being floated, Cavill emerged as the clear fan favorite.

The online buzz around Cavill intensified following Bezos' tweet, with many fans expressing their desire to see him step into the role vacated by Daniel Craig. Cavill's recent involvement with Amazon, where he is set to star in and produce the eagerly awaited "Warhammer 40,000" project, has led to speculation about his potential to also take on the role of Bond.

Cavill's history with the franchise adds an intriguing layer to the conversation. He famously auditioned for the role of James Bond for the 2006 film "Casino Royale." Director Martin Campbell praised Cavill's audition, describing it as "tremendous." However, at the age of 23, Cavill was deemed too young for the part, which ultimately went 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."

The search for the next James Bond intensified after Daniel Craig's departure following "No Time to Die." 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." He also mentioned the typical commitment to the role, saying, "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."

Considering Cavill's current age of 40, Campbell added, "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."

With Amazon now steering the James Bond ship, the future of the franchise and the identity of the next 007 remain topics of intense interest and speculation.