Henry Cavill Vs. Aaron Taylor-Johnson: Which Next James Bond Frontrunner Would Be The Better 007
Henry Cavill and Aaron Taylor-Johnson are the believed frontrunners to take over the James Bond franchise, and each choice has pros and cons, but only one of the two actors is best suited for the part of 007. James Bond is a highly coveted role for any actor, with only a select few having the pleasure of playing the world-class super spy. With Daniel Craig’s era now over, it’s time to decide who will be the best replacement to carry the franchise forward beginning with the next James Bond movie.
This hotly debated topic has seen several names pop up as potential James Bonds, but according to the odds from UK betting sites, there are really only two contenders for the role (via Express). One is Henry Cavill, who has already played iconic roles like Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher series, Sherlock Holmes in Netflix’s Enola Holmes, and Superman in the DCEU. Cavill was previously up for the James Bond role in 2005 before losing out to Daniel Craig (via GamesRadar). The other contender is Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who starred in Kick-Ass and played Pietro Maximoff in Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Henry Cavill Vs. Aaron Taylor-Johnson: Who Could Do Better 007 Action
James Bond is a spy who frequently gets his hands dirty. As seen in earlier 007 films, he’s perfectly capable of chasing down bad guys on foot through high-rise buildings or on a snowmobile, he can fight superbly hand to hand or with a variety of weapons, and he always finds a way to complete his mission. The role is extremely physically demanding, and the actor playing James Bond will need to be in peak condition and comfortable performing a wide range of athletic stunts.
Henry Cavill certainly fits the bill here. With Cavill’s role as Superman and his tenure as The Witcher‘s Geralt, he has played a number of parts that demanded peak physical condition, and he’s shown proper agility and suave stealth in such movies as The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Meanwhile, Taylor-Johnson has also had a solid track record for physically demanding roles, with none perhaps more challenging than the upcoming Kraven the Hunter.
Strangely enough, despite their age gap — Cavill is 40 and Taylor-Johnson is 33 — they both began acting in film and TV at the same time, in 2001. Taylor-Johnson has almost twice as many acting credits as Cavill, but the latter has had more opportunities to play the leading man and star in action roles. All things considered, Cavill has a slight advantage when it comes to action and meeting the physical demands associated with playing James Bond. Given his experience in active lead roles, Cavill edges out a win in this category.
Henry Cavill Vs. Aaron Taylor-Johnson: Who’d Be The More Charming & Cool James Bond
The life of a super spy requires a range of skills, including physical prowess, but it’s also equally important for someone playing James Bond to espouse charm and confidence in order to complete the more subtle missions where violence can be avoided. This is one of the points where Daniel Craig’s Bond could have improved. However, just as with those who played the character before him, each actor has had particular strengths that put a personal stamp on their time in the tux. For the next actor occupying the role, there should be a return to this extremely cool, charming, and sophisticated personality that was characteristic of the Pierce Brosnan and Roger Moore takes on James Bond.
Looking at the filmographies of both Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Henry Cavill, the latter again has the upper hand for charm and romance. Taylor-Johnson has had many roles as a side character without any sort of romantic storyline, instead developing his reputation as stony-faced, strong, and single-minded on his mission. In roles where romance has come up, like in Kick-Ass, he has mainly played into the awkward and quirky guy next door persona, which can be charming but less confident and intentional than is usual for Bond.
Cavill has had multiple roles where romance was central to the storyline, and he plays the cool, calm, and collected gentleman who wins the hearts of many. In The Witcher, Geralt is broody and closed-off but still manages to find time for romance, and Cavill’s take on Clark Kent was, if anything, too charming for the awkward alter-ego of Superman. Cavill appears to be the more charming actor, but this could be simply due to a lack of opportunity for Taylor-Johnson to show off his romantic skills, and playing James Bond would give him the opportunity to showcase such talents.
Henry Cavill Vs. Aaron Taylor-Johnson: Who’d Be The Most Different To Daniel Craig
Daniel Craig proved to be an excellent James Bond with his gritty realism and the darker tone of his characterization. It was a very different portrayal from the more light-hearted or playful performances that preceded him. During Craig’s tenure, he also became the oldest actor to play the role apart from the solo appearance from actor David Niven in the non-canon Casino Royale spoof from 1967, but his age and the focus on making the story less spy action and more of a gritty thriller was distinctly different to what came before.
Whether Aaron Taylor-Johnson or Henry Cavill is cast, they are likely to bring something very different to the role, but the latter’s age and his track record for playing dark or haunted characters could mean he shares a similar tone and feel to Craig’s performance. Taylor-Johnson has played plenty of sullen action heroes, and the villainous role of Kraven looks to be another performance leaning into a darker portrayal, but the actor has also had more experience as a playful and quirky character. In Kick-Ass and Avengers: Age of Ultron, he leans into comedy and delivers a fun quirkiness that could breathe new life into the role of James Bond.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s Age Gives Him An Advantage Over Henry Cavill
At 33 years old, Aaron Taylor-Johnson is considerably younger than Henry Cavill. When Cavill initially auditioned for the role of James Bond in 2005, he ultimately lost out on the role because he looked too young at 23 compared to Craig’s more seasoned and refined look as a 38-year-old rugged man. Now, with Cavill aged 40, he is a little older than Craig was at the time of his casting, but his age still means he would likely have fewer years ahead to play the role before aging out.
Cavill is already a very popular actor with major roles under his belt, and he is likely to be in high demand, which could further restrict the number of times he could play the role of Bond in the future. Taylor-Johnson on the other hand is in the perfect sweet spot at 33, with a mature and rugged look and many years in his prime still ahead of him. This advantage along with the opportunity to add an incredibly impressive role to his career and launch him further makes Taylor-Johnson perfect casting for the role of James Bond.
Why Aaron Taylor-Johnson Would Be Better As The Next James Bond
Both actors would make incredible James Bonds and would definitely add their own personal stamp to the iconic figure, but if given the chance to shoot a James Bond movie today, the superior product would be made with Henry Cavill in the role. He has the experience, he is suave, and he’s played a super spy, a world-class detective, and someone who can effortlessly romance a target. His experience, look, charm, and acting ability make him an incredible choice to take on the role and embody the character. That said, Taylor-Johnson has more time to grow into the role and potentially a greater opportunity to make something unique and different.
Daniel Craig’s performance as James Bond was a fairly large departure from earlier interpretations, with more focus on his late career, family, a weariness in the work, and dark moments, Taylor-Johnson has the opportunity to make an equally big departure in the other direction. He could be a less self-assured Bond from early in his spy career, learning and refining his skills of seduction, and growing into the super spy that has been portrayed for over 60 years largely in the middle of his career. Cavill would be a better Bond today, but given some time to grow as the character, Taylor-Johnson can become something extraordinary.
Who Is Actually More Likely To Be The Next James Bond
Aaron Taylor-Johnson is the current frontrunner be the next James Bond, as his odds take a significant lead against the competition. Taylor-Johnson is the perfect age, and he has enough experience with action to make him a solid choice. On top of this, he could bring a fresh new take on the international super spy and develop the earlier story in contrast with Daniel Craig’s winding down and demise of the character. All of this together makes Taylor-Johnson not just the most likely choice for James Bond, but also the best for the character and the franchise moving forward.