Henry Cavill was too fat to play James Bond. You read that correctly. The man who donned the iconic cape of the Man of Steel was told he was too fat to play the debonaire spy, 007. Cavill is a sculpture of a man, in peak physical condition. And, he’s no stranger to the spy and espionage realm, either, with roles in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and Mission Impossible: Fallout. But, apparently, this wasn’t always the case. Before the Justice League star became Superman, in both form and personality, Cavill apparently wasn’t always in the shape he is now.
During an interview with CinemaBlend, Henry recalled his audition for Bond at the time of casting for Casino Royale (which ultimately went to Daniel Craig).
“I probably could have prepared better. I remember the director, Martin Campbell, saying, ‘Looking a little chubby there, Henry.’ I didn’t know how to train or diet. And I’m glad Martin said something, because I respond well to truth. It helps me get better.”
It feels weird even thinking about Cavill as ‘out of shape’. It just doesn’t make sense. The man who is set to play the lead in the upcoming Netflix series, The Witcher, has always seemed to be a near perfect specimen of a man. And, if you follow him on Instagram, his workouts show you exactly why he was perfect to play the Man of Steel. But, even Superman needs a push sometimes, and Cavill got that push from director Martin Campbell’s jabs at his weight. In the end, it all worked out for the best. Daniel Craig has been a fan favorite Bond, Henry has been the consummate Superman, and has been in other great films that he might have otherwise missed out on due to the Bond obligations.
I gotta say, though, I would kill to be ‘Cavill fat’.
Do you think Cavill was ever ‘too fat’ to play Bond? Let us know in the comments below!