This article contains spoilers for Argylle.
Despite the fact that Henry Cavill has long been considered a perfect fit for James Bond, his role in his most recent spy thriller, Argylle, means that Cavill will likely no longer be a contender. Henry Cavill is a British actor whose career began in the early 2000s with projects like The Count of Monte Cristo and The Tudors. In the 2010s, his popularity skyrocketed when he took on the role of Superman in Man of Steel. Nowadays, Cavill is a force for popular franchises like Sherlock Holmes and The Witcher. However, James Bond is likely off his radar now.
Cavill’s chances of being cast as 007 have been tainted by his latest spy film, Argylle. Directed by Matthew Vaughn of Kingsman fame, Argylle is a spy thriller following Elly Conway, an author who discovers that the Agent Argylle she writes about in her spy novels is a real person, and her books dictate his real life. In the film, Cavill plays the version of Agent Argylle Elly imagines in her head while writing. While this fact was not necessarily bad enough to bar Cavill from playing the most famous spy in Hollywood history, the film’s plot twist changes everything.
Henry Cavill Should Play A James Bond Villain, Not 007 – And One Movie Proves Why
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Argylle’s Real Agent Twist Means Henry Cavill Almost Certainly Won’t Be James Bond
Before Argylle premiered, the trailer made it seem like Henry Cavill was only playing a fictional version of Agent Argylle, and that another actor would play the real Argylle, which meant there was still a possibility that he could play James Bond. If he was playing only a spoof of James Bond, there was no conflict of interest. However, upon the movie’s release, the twist of who the real Argylle is ended up ruining his tenuous chances. Henry Cavill was the real Agent Argylle all along. This twist was not only unsatisfying, but it also ruined Cavill’s James Bond casting.
Ultimately, the problem boils down to Henry Cavill playing too many spies. James Bond is an iconic franchise, and arguably, is the greatest spy story of all time. Therefore, the franchise is going to be picky about which actors portray the legendary 007. While Henry Cavill has a lot going for him in terms of charm, physicality, and ability to lead a franchise, his role in Argylle is a major hit against him. If Cavill has already played a spy, especially one as campy as Agent Argylle, then he shouldn’t play Bond. The shared genre and themes create crossed wires.
Henry Cavill’s James Bond Chances Had Decreased Even Before Argylle
To be fair, Henry Cavill was not the top contender for James Bond, even before Argylle. When Cavill first auditioned to play the iconic spy back in 2006, Cavill was only 22 at the time. Considering the ages of past James Bond actors, that was far too young. And even now, with Cavill at 40 years old, his age could still play a factor. The next James Bond could take years, and in that time, Cavill might age out. James Bond actors have ranged from 29 to 42, but most recently, Daniel Craig was 38 in his first Bond movie.
Furthermore, Cavill may not be what James Bond’s creators are looking for, or what the franchise needs right now. Although he is a talented actor, James Bond is in need of some change. After so many decades of casting similar-looking white men to play 007, it could be time for Bond to cast an actor of color. Idris Elba is a popular choice among Bond fans. Either way, Henry Cavill may have the looks and talents to play Bond, but it may be better that the role is being given to another actor who can break more ground with it.
Argylle Can Give Henry Cavill His Own Spy Franchise – But Will A Sequel Happen?
In any case, Henry Cavill is not being left completely in the dust. He may not get to play James Bond, but Argylle certainly has its benefits. Director Matthew Vaughn is known for his action franchises such as Kingsman, Kick-Ass, and X-Men, and it seems likely that Argylle is going to be his next franchise. If this works out, then Cavill will be playing the spy role for longer than just a single movie. And as the first and only actor to play the Argylle role, Cavill’s reputation could be bolstered in the same way Taron Egerton’s was after Kingsman.
The only issue with this is whether Argylle will actually get a sequel. Despite being open-ended enough to spawn a full franchise, Argylle did not perform as well as intended upon its release. On a rumored $200 million budget, the film only earned $35.5 million worldwide during its opening weekend. This is a pretty steep loss that could easily keep Argylle from getting a sequel. The film’s bad reviews don’t help it either. It earned a 34% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. So perhaps Cavill’s best spy role will revert to The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Henry Cavill Would’ve Been A Great James Bond, But Has Enough Franchises Now
Finally, there is the fact that Henry Cavill does not really need to play James Bond. While the role would definitely be an honor for the actor, it is not a make-or-break situation. Playing Bond would change his career, but not playing Bond doesn’t really hurt him that much. Henry Cavill is still a highly successful actor who continues to remain relevant in the public eye.
In the end, Henry Cavill is slated for success with or without James Bond. His past franchise roles have boosted his fame significantly, and his future movie roles are going to continue his streak of good luck. As of now, Cavill is set to appear in a pair of Guy Ritchie action movies, and in the coming years, he is rumored to be taking the lead role in the Highlander reboot. Therefore, Cavill has had his time to shine in various movie franchises, successful or failed, and so his loss of James Bond is not as disappointing as it seems.
Argylle
James Bond
