Two decades before Amazon MGM Studios began its highly publicised search for the next James Bond, a different group of actors walked into a casting room with the same dream. Among them were a 22-year-old Henry Cavill and a then-unknown Antony Starr. Both men screen-tested for 2006’s Casino Royale, the film that ultimately starred Daniel Craig and reset the franchise for a new generation. Their audition tapes later surfaced online, giving fans a direct look at what could have been. The footage has renewed interest in both actors as the current Bond casting process moves through its final stages.
Henry Cavill Came Closest to Playing 007
Henry Cavill was not a household name in 2005. He had not yet worn Superman’s cape or carried Geralt’s swords. What he had was a screen test for Casino Royale and a director who saw serious potential. Martin Campbell, who directed both GoldenEye and Casino Royale, later described Cavill’s audition in strong terms.
“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 chiselled. He just looked a little young at that time back then.”
Cavill was 22 during the 2005 auditions. Reports indicate he reached the final stages of the process, with some accounts placing him in the last two alongside Daniel Craig. The footage, recorded in 2005 and later shared online, shows a long-haired Cavill reading lines from GoldenEye, including the famous introduction and the vodka martini order.
Age worked against Cavill in 2005. Producers wanted a Bond who could carry the role for multiple films, and Cavill’s youth made him a risk at the time. Martin Campbell also recalled a blunt note from the audition room.
“I remember the director, Martin Campbell, saying, ‘Looking a little chubby there, Henry,’” Cavill said in an interview with Men’s Health. “I didn’t know how to train or diet. And I’m glad Martin said something, because I respond well to truth. It helps me get better.”
Cavill eventually moved on to major roles, including Superman in the DC films and Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher. He has remained a popular fan choice for Bond in the years since, though recent reports suggest the current search is focused on younger performers.
Antony Starr Calls His Bond Audition One of the Worst Ever
Antony Starr is now widely known as Homelander in The Boys, a role that made him one of television’s most recognisable antagonists. In 2005, he was a New Zealand actor with credits including Xena: Warrior Princess and Without a Paddle, trying his luck in a global casting search.
Starr’s audition tape, which runs roughly four and a half minutes, also uses the GoldenEye casino scene. The footage shows a younger Starr with darker hair attempting the suave British spy persona. Starr has been candid about the result.
“My metaphor for that was like throwing a baitless hook into a very large pond, knowing you’re not gonna catch the fish. I’ve seen it. That was when Daniel Craig was getting it. They were just dragnetting the globe, and I was just one of the little minnows somewhere in there that got caught in the net. It was a bit surreal.”
Starr did not hold back when assessing his own performance.
“It’s not very good, but it’s reflective of where I was at.”
“It is one of the worst readings of ‘Bond. James Bond’ you’ll ever see.”
The tape’s resurfacing in 2025 drew amused reactions from The Boys fans, many of whom noted that Starr already carried a certain intensity even in a completely different role. Starr has since said he has no interest in taking on Bond now, describing the action commitment as “a young man’s game.”
Other Actors Who Tried Out for Casino Royale
Cavill and Starr were not alone in the 2005 audition pipeline. Several other actors also screen-tested for Casino Royale, and some of their tapes surfaced alongside Cavill’s and Starr’s.
- Rupert Friend auditioned in 2005 but later said he intentionally removed himself from contention, feeling he was too young for the role at 22.
- Sam Worthington, then best known for smaller roles before Avatar, was also a finalist. Worthington has said he could play Bond “as a killer” but could not master the debonair side of the character.
- Dominic West auditioned for Casino Royale and later remarked that he turned up in casual clothes while other candidates wore tuxedos.
The shared use of the GoldenEye casino scene across multiple audition tapes shows how the casting team compared actors on the same material. Daniel Craig ultimately won the role and played Bond in five films, from Casino Royale through No Time to Die in 2021.
The 2026 Bond Search Has a New Shortlist
The current search for the next James Bond has moved through 2026 with a different set of names. Amazon MGM Studios took over creative control of the franchise and set up a final round of screen tests. Reports from Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter identified Jack Lowden, Callum Turner and Josh O’Connor as three of the actors in the final mix, with a fourth contender whose identity has not been confirmed.
Jack Lowden, known for Slow Horses, has emerged as a bookmakers’ favourite following the final auditions. Callum Turner, who appeared in Masters of the Air, and Josh O’Connor, star of Challengers and The Crown, are also reported to be in contention. The final screen tests reportedly include stunts, camera presence and dialogue, a more demanding process than a simple reading.
The production side is also set. Denis Villeneuve is attached to direct, Steven Knight has written the script, and Amy Pascal and David Heyman are producing. The next Bond film is expected to enter production once the lead actor is confirmed.
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What the Leaked Tapes Show About Bond Casting
The 2005 audition tapes offer a rare look at how a major franchise evaluates actors. Cavill and Starr read the same scene, but the footage captures two very different performers at two very different points in their careers. Cavill was a young actor with the right look but limited experience. Starr was an unknown with intensity but not yet the polish the role required.
The tapes also show that losing a Bond audition does not define a career. Cavill went on to lead major franchises, and Starr became one of the most talked-about actors on television. The actor who wins the 2026 search will face the same long shadow that followed everyone who tested in 2005.
Also Read: Jack Lowden’s “Slough House Is MI5, Not MI6” Quote Explained: How His Slow Horses Role Quietly Shut Down James Bond Talk
The next Bond announcement is expected before the end of 2026, according to reports, though Amazon MGM Studios has not set a firm date. For more entertainment news and casting updates, keep reading VvipTimes.
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