Following the surprising announcement that Amazon has assumed full creative control over the James Bond franchise, with long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson stepping aside, the burning question on everyone's mind is: who should step into the iconic role of 007 next?

Amazon's CEO, Jeff Bezos, posed this question to his followers on X (formerly Twitter), sparking a significant response from fans worldwide. While names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson have been floated as potential candidates, the overwhelming fan favorite is Henry Cavill.

The online buzz around Henry Cavill intensified immediately after Bezos' tweet, with the actor quickly trending as fans rallied for the Superman and Witcher star to succeed Daniel Craig as 007. This surge in support has led to speculation about whether Cavill's chances of donning the tuxedo have increased with Amazon's newfound control, especially given his commitment to star in and produce Amazon's eagerly awaited Warhammer 40,000 project.

Cavill's history with the Bond franchise is well-documented. He famously auditioned for the role during the casting of 2006's Casino Royale, an audition that Casino Royale director Martin Campbell praised as "tremendous." However, at the age of 23, Cavill was deemed too young, and the role ultimately went to Daniel Craig.

In a 2023 interview with The Express, Campbell reflected on Cavill's audition, stating, "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 chiseled. He just looked a little young at that time back then."

Cavill himself acknowledged the close call in an interview with Josh Horowitz, saying, "It was ultimately down to, and this is what I’ve been told, it was just down to me and Daniel, and I was the younger option. They obviously went with Daniel and I think it was an amazing choice to go with Daniel. I probably wasn’t ready at the time and I think Daniel did an incredible job over the past movies, so I’m happy they made that choice."

The search for the next James Bond intensified after Daniel Craig's departure following No Time to Die. Campbell noted, "By the time Daniel got to [No Time To Die] really he was at an age where one more would have been too old for him." He also mentioned the typical contract for Bond actors, stating, "I think they sign on for three Bonds, I’m not absolutely 100% certain of that. I know with Pierce [Brosnan] he had to sign on to three when we did him. So, that’s going to take, what, six years of your life maybe? I suspect Daniel [had] the same deal. And the next guy’s going to have to do that."

Reflecting on Cavill's age and the demands of the role, Campbell added, "Henry’s 40, so by the time he’s done the third one he’s going to be 50. Anything beyond that’s two, three years per Bond. He’s in good shape Henry, he’s a good guy. He did very well in the audition, but ironically, he was too young."

With Amazon now steering the James Bond franchise, the question remains: could Henry Cavill finally step into the shoes of 007?