Henry Cavill’s James Bond Audition Tape Offers a Fascinating ‘What If?’

The year is 2005. Pierce Brosnan hangs up James Bond’s revolver and producers are on the lookout for the next 007. Twenty years later, we know that Daniel Craig was picked and it went very, very well. He made five movies, they were all very successful, and now in 2025 we’re back in the same boat. Soon, producers will be on the hunt for a new James Bond.

The search for a new Bond is always a point of interest and what actually happens behind the scenes is rarely revealed. Or, in this case, maybe it takes 20 years. Games Radar discovered that a YouTuber named Ron South recently uploaded four videos that very much look and sound like James Bond audition tapes from 2005. It’s unclear how South got the videos so watching them does feel a little wrong but, when you do watch them, one thing very much stands out. That’s Henry Cavill.

Cavill, of course, is best known for playing Zack Snyder’s Superman for the better part of a decade. But, he didn’t get that role until several years after this Bond audition. At the time, he was just an up-and-coming actor, probably best known for 2002’s The Count of Monte Cristo remake. And yet he, along with Avatar’s Sam Worthington, Homeland and Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Rupert Friend, and The Boys’ Antony Starr, all tried to be James Bond at the time, which you can now see online. Here’s a link to South’s page which, as of publication, still had the four auditions on it. Below is Cavill and, after the video, we’re gonna go into the multiverse.

Okay so, imagine for a second Henry Cavill is cast as James Bond for 2006’s Casino Royale. First of all, he doesn’t play Zack Snyder’s Superman so maybe someone like Charlie Cox gets that role (which would starts a whole other set of dominos). Cavill is then much more famous much sooner and maybe the lovable geek that Cavill is later revealed to be— The Witcher/Warhammer guy—never comes out. But, he gets other roles too, ones that elevate him beyond just James Bond because, let’s face it, Bond is the rare franchise role most actors are able to break away from. Unlike, say, Superman.

But then what happens to Daniel Craig? We’d imagine that his career may have mirrored Cavill’s a bit more. Maybe he doesn’t become a megastar for a few more years but, eventually, he would. He’s too good not to. And after a few blockbusters, he certainly could slip into the smaller roles that he really seems to love. Or, maybe he doesn’t, because he doesn’t have that James Bond money to fall back on.

All in all, it’s fascinating things to think about, especially because Cavill’s audition is quite good. (We especially like the subtle eye movements.) What are your thoughts on this alternate reality?

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.