Henry Cavill covers this week’s issue of the Hollywood Reporter. He’s promoting the Witcher, but he’s got a million other projects too, like Enola Holmes 2 (I loved the first one), Matthew Vaughn’s Argylle, a Highlander reboot and more. THR’s interview seems to have a thesis, which is “Cavill is the best candidate for James Bond now.” Which I halfway agree with. I don’t even think Idris Elba wants it at this point, and y’all know Barbara Broccoli is just going to choose some white guy anyway. Please allow Henry Cavill to convince you that he should be that white guy! He talks about plenty of other stuff too of course.
He says hello to everyone on set: “A set is often rush-rush-rush, and we forget the basic human decencies. I want people to know I respect everything they do and they’re just doing a job like I am. To me, it’s just respect and good manners.”
He’s booking back-to-back projects: “Something has changed, something has shifted. After 21 years of hard work, I have three jobs lined up. Maybe it’s me, maybe it’s my approach, maybe my value as a commodity increases being attached to things like The Witcher. Now I can really focus on the storytelling and grow from here.”
He’s not talking about Joss Whedon: True to form, Cavill largely avoided engaging on the controversies that followed Justice League, such as the reports of replacement director Joss Whedon’s abusive on-set behavior, though he did acknowledge in an interview that the theatrical cut “didn’t work.” He now says Snyder did a “wonderful job” with his Snyder Cut re-edit.
He tore his hamstring on The Witcher: “It was a very, very bad tear, and I was very lucky that it wasn’t a complete detachment of the hamstring… The difficulty was working while I was injured. Because I wanted to do more for the production — I know how important it was for them to get stuff done. So it was having to find that balance between, ‘Yes, let’s push, push, push,’ and, ‘Whoa, hold on, if I tear this further, it’s the end of my action career.’ That was my worst moment of the past year — professionally.”
He likes being private: “I tend to slip off the radar when not working. I’m a private person and a family person. The spotlight is beneficial, but it can also be exhausting. I like to put my feet up without being concerned with how I’m being perceived or what I’m putting out there, and I can do that in a private space with friends and family. We’ve seen plenty of celebrity events where somebody’s lost their temper, and I’m sure a lot of that comes down to the feeling of being exposed.”
What he wishes he’d known at the start of his career: “As a person, I’m quite … ‘naive’ isn’t the right word, but I’m very trusting and open. I wish I’d been a bit more business savvy and smart and realize everyone has their own thing going on. I wish I had a better business mentor from an earlier age.”
Whether he wants to be the next James Bond: “Look … I hate it when people start a sentence with, ‘Look …’ — it sounds like they’re lying about something. I think it would be very exciting to have a conversation with the producers. … In an ideal world, I’d never have to turn anything down. Nothing is off the table. It’s an honor to even be part of that conversation.”
I like his answer to the “what do wish you would have known” question – in all of our discussions about the importance of women talking about money and financial literacy, sometimes we need to talk about how men need advice and mentorship as well. It falls through the cracks because we assume all men look out for each other, that all men are bros and that they’re secretly mentoring each other constantly. Maybe that’s not the case. In addition to all of that, Cavill talks a bit about how he’d like to do another stand-alone Superman movie, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. I do think he will probably be in contention for James Bond though.
Cover courtesy of THR, additional photos courtesy of Avalon Red and IG.
He did well in mission impossible as a spy but im used to a more ragged bond. Plus isn’t there anyone else, he’s all over the place. That being said, him in a speedo ala craigs beach scene will be the best cinema EVAHHHHHHHHH.
P.s. yay more Yennefer in the witcher.
I ADORE him as Superman…and will STAY MAD how DC botched that WHOLE DAMN THANG!
Me until the end of time! He’s nailed the perfect superman look, but DC ruined everything.
Me until the end of time! He’s nailed the perfect superman look, but DC ruined everything.
unfortunately, Henry Cavill has not enough talent and no chemistry with women. you can already see that in the witcher scenes with Anya Chalotra. Henry would be a very poor cast as James Bond.
I would have to disagree, there was definitely chemistry between Cavill and Amy Adams. You could imagine Superman and Lois Lane had progressed beyond holding hands…
Im just here to say that I didn’t think Batman v Superman was a very good Superman movie but that bathtub love scene between Lois and Clark in that movie from the extended cut lives rent free in my head. Superhero movies are generally so sexless but, like Reeve and Kidder before them, Superman and Lois Lane get down like no one’s business.
I have nothing else of note to add to this convo. I just really like that scene and Henry was extremely genuine in it.
He def had chemistry with women in The Tudors.
Maybe that’s why he is more reserved now, actually. He had a lot of, ahem, vigorous love scenes on that show that could make him self conscious of on-screen affection now.
OMG! He looked so bored in The Witcher that I cheered for the villians and Anya. He looked bored in The Man from U.N.C.L.E., too. He reminded me of Jaime Dornan as Christian Grey.
I like him as Superman but he would be a TERRIBLE Bond. He’s simply not cool enough for the role.
He’s not the greatest actor, but I’ll say it: Finally, after all these years, a fuckable Bond. That would make me actually watch the movies again. I never liked Craig, and although I adore Idris Elba he’s too old. Henry would be PERFECT
::: chef’s kiss :::
This comment is perfect!
Idris is too old but he would definitely be a bonable Bond!
Totally agree.
Hmm. I’m just the opposite there.
Meanwhile, I’d like for them to cast someone young and show how they choose people to recruit. Show training, flight school at the naval academy, why he is the way he is, and end with him getting 00 status.
I like Lainey’s take — Dev Patel.
Someone made a comment about him dating a racist/bully…. what is that about? I love Henry and didn’t know about that.
He was with Gina Carano for a little bit years ago, maybe it’s her??
His current girlfriend had a blackface photo then tried to blame it on a Namibian tribe.
His current girlfriend bullies his fans online. And she was “forced” to apologize for wearing black makeup all over her body
Henry’s fans are going around spreading weird stories about his girlfriend bullying fans. There’s no concrete proof of that-only screenshots of things like mean comments they claim it’s from one of her many side Instagram accounts she created to bully them. The accuser themself said they cannot confirm it was her and have set the account private it seems.
Regarding the racist thing-there’s a photo of her painted brown from the neck down in a country in Africa, with the photographer saying she was doing an ad there. His girlfriend since said it was not blackface but rather a custom of the tribe (paint her and put her in their clothing). Such a custom actually exist in that tribe. His fans don’t buy that reasoning for different reasons (they either don’t like her, or brought up intriguing context such as her being there for some reality show), but as of now it really doesn’t imply racism just from the photo and apology alone. She WAS a Republican pre Trump based on old tweets that seems to be from her, which is still not cool buttt that’s all we know
I don’t know anything about Cavill or his girlfriend, but I’d be super careful to take things with a grain of salt. There’s a weird trend (if that’s the right word?) of some very intense fans fanning hatred against male celebrities’ girlfriends/wives. It’s a weird misogyny thing mixed up with jealousy.
Not saying we shouldn’t criticize her if there’s evidence, of course. I’ve just learned to be very wary of implications and rumors in situations like these without some kind of receipts.
I actually started following him after watching the Witcher but will not be watching the 2nd season or any of the spin offs. I agree some of his fans take things over the top but the fact remains – he’s dating a woman who did blackface and then instead of apologizing she lied saying it was a tribe initiation instead of admitting it was an advertisement for a water company that sells bottled water for the tourist industry in Namibia. Not to be confused with the company who sells water filtration systems to the local residents. He dated Gina and is now dating Natalie. So if it walks like a racist, and acts like a racist… you get the point.
I have such a soft spot for him. He was incredibly hot in season 1 of The Tudors and had great chemistry with Gabrielle Anwar (although that could be largely her, because she’s amazing). I also found him in The Man From U.N.C.L.E to be very charming, charismatic and sauve. I’d be into seeing what he could do as Bond.
He’s a taurus, and their saturn/jupiter conjuction is happening in their 10th house. The house of career, legacy, being famous and getting good work. It’s going to be there for 20 years, so I was like: “Of course!! It’s your turn now” when I read him saying “Something has changed, something has shifted. After 21 years of hard work, I have three jobs lined up….”. Lol! 🙂
Cap’s and tauruses; second and tenth house. Money, fame, opportunities, legacy and resources, for a good 20 years.
Seeing a lot of Capricorns doing good this year, and besides Ana de armas (taurus) I’ve been waiting for more tauruses getting more work and recognition. It will come, we’re just getting started when it comes to this conjuction, as it will effect us for two decades.
He could very possibly be the nexy James Bond. He certainly has the looks!
This is fascinating to me! What’s up with virgos? Is there a good reason that my life is in shambles and I’m a grumpasaurus rex all the time?
I’ve only seen him in The Witcher, wait, no, I’ve seen him in Man of Steel too, but probably doesn’t count as I walked out of that one pretty early on because of how boring it was (and it had nothing to do with Cavill, the gloomy colors in that movie, the pace, the opening sequence – were just all wrong for me and it was the opposite of what I wanted to watch at the time, well, and probably now as well). Anyway, I’ve only see him in The Witcher, so I could be wrong, but he looks like such a STAND OUT there, he’s huge, he can’t play a spy, he’d never blend in, and he’s too spectacular to look at, both the body and the face. And in response to some comments above, I personally feel like he has chemistry with Yennifer. He’s a little less fragile version of Matt Bomer for me, same type)) but neither could be James Bond, too memorable <3
His best roles were, in my opinion, in The Tudors and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Where he gets to inject a comedic/witty touch to his characters. Unfortunately a huge part of his cv are roles where he didn’t get to display this talent. His good looks are both a blessing (who would not remember his audition in the early days as an unknown and keep him on file, even if he didn’t get the role?) and a handicap (he gets cast as handsome lead, depth need not be included). I am therefore on the fence on whether he would make a good Bond. If he had to play Bond in a one-dimensional manner like Superman, i don’ t think it would work. If the producers see where his potential lies in character development he could play a very different Bond to Craig and be successful in it. A slicker, lighter Bond with less angst, more glamour. Whether that is what the producers want is a completely different subject. I personally would place him second on the casting wish-list, I would still place my bet on Rege-Jean bagging the role.
I agree he could never blend in as a spy
Lady Esther, Idris Elba too old? How dare you? He is PERFECT for Bond and I’d NEVER watch Henry because he’s a shallow, cookie cutter actor. Yes, he looks something like the much bereaved Christopher Reeve (God rest his soul), but he has NOTHING on Idris Elba. Sex appeal, nuance, good acting, a smile that shines 1,000 watts, Idris is the REAL deal. God, I’m so upset. And Idris never dated women much younger than him. Okay, I’ve said my piece.
Idris would be an amazing Bond, so sexy and manly and strong and grizzly and… Fainted and could not finish sentence.
He’s stated repeatedly he doesn’t want the role anymore, so i’m afraid he’s off the casting wish-list. But we can hold out hopes for a good baddie role in the franchise though?
Me me me with this. Idris every day
Idris is fab in every way, but to be fair his wife is 17 years younger than him. So a fair bit younger.
The only Bond I can see in the future is Michael Fassbender. The only problem is that he thinks he above that. Henry Cavill is hot but not that hot
fassbender would be hotttttt
I said this above but I’m adding to the convo that that bathtub love scene between Superman and Lois Lane from the extended cut of Batman v Superman lives rent free in my head. The movie had problems but OMG I loved that scene. Cavill can be extremely tender when he wants to be.
Doubt he has a chance. He comes across as handsome but stiff and boring in talk shows and doesn’t have a lot of charisma as an actor. Also his dating history says a lot about you and his is basically very young women , a right wing nut and his current girlfriend who thinks blackface is alright. I don’t think that’s the profile the James Bond people are going for in this day and age…
Isn’t his father a stockbroker? Not that immediately makes him knowledgeable about how to develop business acumen in the film world, but surely he gave great advice to his son as the money started rolling in? I do like him being honest about wishing he had had a business mentor, I think a lot of people look back at their 20’s and 30’s and wish someone could have given them the kind of advice about negotiation and investment that would have given them a firmer footing financially so that they could make better decisions. Both men and women suffer from not being given guidance. Men also feel way more pressure to flash the cash, and to buy things that make them appear as if they have made it asap. It is hard to save and be prudent when you feel judged on the make of your car and being able to buy countless rounds of drinks whenever you go out.
I remember he told a story about his dad encouraging him to buy a luxury car haha. Seems like a sweet story but could mean that his father isn’t so smart with his business moves.
there’s some gossip back in the day about Henry and a publicity team. They didn’t like him or something happened and he used to get pretty shitty, out of pocket rumours about him which led people to speculate why.
If he gave his son that advice, I can only wonder which advice he gave to his clients!
Cavill went to a top-tier private school, his family must be rather well-off and eye-wateringly well-connected. I can’ t see him being completely out of pocket, though probably as clueless when it comes to money matters as we all were in our 20’s.
I loved henry before superman, when i knew him as the duke of Norfolk in the series The Tudors with Jonathan Reyes. That was such a good series. My turnoff were henry’s teenish girlfriends. And the older girlfriend rollout I saw more recently and to me, that felt sooooo staged. Also henry looks good and can be sexy etc, but he just lacks something – That spark- that makes someone just wow superstar.