Henry Cavill Gets Surprising James Bond Boost as Insiders Tip Shock Casting

James Bond might have found his way back to Henry Cavill. The actor, who famously came within a hair’s breadth of securing the 007 role before Daniel Craig was cast, has just seen his odds slashed by Ladbrokes from 10/1 to 3/1. That puts Cavill as the punters’ clear favorite in terms of bets placed, though Aaron Taylor-Johnson still holds frontrunner status with bookies at 8/11.

Theo James, once hovering near the top of the lists, has slipped to 7/1, while Callum Turner (5/1), Harris Dickinson (8/1), Tom Holland (10/1), and Jack Lowden (10/1) round out the upper tier of contenders.

For Cavill, 42, the renewed momentum comes two decades after his now-famous audition for Casino Royaleresurfaced online. At the time, GoldenEye and Casino Royale director Martin Campbell was impressed but ultimately felt Cavill was too young at just 22.

“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.”

That screen test—complete with Cavill delivering the iconic “Bond, James Bond” line and ordering a martini—has long lingered in the imaginations of fans who see him as the franchise’s great missed opportunity.

Who Will Be the New James Bond?

Despite Cavill’s betting boom, Aaron Taylor-Johnson remains the industry’s most persistent rumor magnet. At the London premiere of 28 Years Later, the actor sidestepped questions about his next role, offering only, “I can’t talk about it,” before being whisked away.

Adding fuel to the fire, Taylor-Johnson recently inked a deal with Omega, the luxury watchmaker that has partnered with James Bond films since Pierce Brosnan’sGoldenEye. Barbara Broccoli, long-time Bond producer, has reportedly favored him in the past. With Amazon now holding the rights to the Bond franchise, the calculus for casting is shifting. Cal Gildart of Ladbrokes summed it up neatly: “Just when it looked like it was running out of steam, the Henry Cavill-for-James Bond bandwagon has picked up again. Cavill seems perfect for the role, but would he make enough of a splash for new rights-holders Amazon?”

That “splash” factor may ultimately decide whether Cavill, Taylor-Johnson, or a surprise name takes up the Walther PPK. For now, Cavill has reclaimed his place in the conversation, two decades after losing out. Whether Amazon and Eon Productions will finally hand him the tux is a story that, like any good Bond film, is still waiting for its third-act twist.