Amazon Reportedly Backs a Different 007 — Another Setback for Henry Cavill

Henry Cavill has been the obvious fan pick to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond for years. But the latest industry chatter points to Amazon leaning younger, and Cavill might be getting elbowed out by a new favorite. Here is where the Bond hunt actually stands, what is rumor vs. reporting, and why the Cavill drumbeat is still so loud.

Where things stand right now

• World of Reel says Amazon is quietly pushing Jacob Elordi as a top contender. The report claims Elordi will screen test in 2025, including the tux fit and some action beats, with a final decision targeted by mid-2026 and heavy input from Denis Villeneuve.
• That bumps up against an earlier note from Deadline stalwart Baz Bamigboye that Villeneuve was eyeing young, unknown British actors. Elordi is neither unknown nor British (he is Australian), which is a fun example of how messy this process gets.
• Variety listed Amazon's June 2025 wishlist for Bond: three under-30 names — Jacob Elordi, Tom Holland, and Harris Dickinson. If that holds, it is bad news for anyone over 30, including Cavill.
• On the creative side, Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders) is reportedly writing the first draft for a film aiming at 2028.
• Villeneuve is the name most often attached to direct after Amazon considered a very prestige-heavy group: Edward Berger, Edgar Wright, Paul King, Jonathan Nolan, and Alfonso Cuaron. The word is Villeneuve would tackle Bond after finishing Dune 3 for Warner Bros.

The Cavill of it all

Cavill almost got Bond once already. Back when Pierce Brosnan exited, he auditioned for Casino Royale and lost to Daniel Craig because he was considered too young at the time. There is tape of Cavill delivering the 'Bond, James Bond' line from 2005, and director Martin Campbell has never been shy about how strong that tryout was.

'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 just looked a little young at that time.'

During Argylle press, Matthew Vaughn even said Campbell preferred Cavill, but producer Barbara Broccoli leaned toward Craig after 'Layer Cake' and deemed Cavill too young. Tough beat.

In terms of receipts, Cavill has already done the suave-but-deadly thing in Guy Ritchie mode: The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. He has also been pretty clear about his Bond take — somewhere between Sean Connery's effortless cool and Craig's bruising intensity. And as recently as last year on The Rich Eisen Show, he said he is still open to it, with the standard 'it is up to Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson' caveat.

So why the sense he is slipping? Fair or not, the narrative around his post-DCEU run has been that several announced projects stalled and the ones that did arrive underperformed, which dings perceived momentum. Combine that with Amazon's under-30 wish list, and you can see why Cavill fans are getting anxious.

The age thing (and the inside baseball)

Here is the tension: older Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have historically resisted going too young. Wilson said at a BFI event in September 2022 that they have tried younger before, but it does not work because Bond is supposed to feel like a seasoned operator — someone who has seen wars, maybe even with an SAS background.

Now layer in the Amazon era. Depending on who you read, Amazon MGM Studios is driving this new cycle, with Villeneuve and Knight lined up and a youthful shortlist that screams franchise runway. Meanwhile, Eon (Broccoli and Wilson) traditionally has the final say on Bond casting. That push-pull is the real inside baseball here, and it is why every new 'shortlist' or 'he is testing' story can contradict the last one.

What about that Bezos fan ask?

After Amazon's takeover, Jeff Bezos reportedly hopped on X to crowdsource fan choices. Names like Tom Hardy and Aaron Taylor-Johnson popped up, but the most popular answer was, unsurprisingly, Henry Cavill. Fans have long memories, and the 'he was this close in 2005' mythos is strong.

So... who is Bond?

If these reports hold, expect a screen test wave in 2025, a decision by mid-2026, and a 2028 release target. Elordi is very much in the mix. Cavill is still in the conversation, but the age and momentum calculus is not doing him favors right now. And until the Eon vs. Amazon priorities line up, do not be shocked if the rumor mill keeps contradicting itself.

One last thing: the entire Bond library is streaming on MGM+ if you feel like scouting the assignment yourself.