Henry Cavill’s Marvel Nova role 'scrapped' as Amazon’s Bond takeover sparks campaign for him as 007

Henry Cavill’s superhero journey has reportedly hit a snag, with Marvel Studios’ Nova series officially shelved, leaving fans wondering what could have been. The Man of Steel and Witcher star, who has just announced he’s stepping away from the latter after three seasons of the popular Netflix show, was reportedly eyed to play Annihilus, a cosmic villain in the now-scrapped Disney+ series.

According to an insider, Cavill was set to take on the motion-capture role, marking a bold departure from his heroic turns as Superman and Geralt of Rivia. The Nova series, which was poised to introduce the Fantastic Four’s iconic foe Annihilus and adapt the classic Annihilation storyline, would have thrust Cavill into a complex, villainous role.

The story would have followed Richard Rider, played by a major name like Austin Butler, as he rebuilt the Nova Corps to combat Annihilus’ universe-threatening Annihilation Wave. Glenn Close and John C. Reilly were even slated to reprise their Guardians of the Galaxy roles, adding to the project’s star power.

Cavill’s portrayal could have showcased a darker, more menacing side of the actor, following his critically acclaimed turn as a villain in Mission: Impossible - Fallout. However, with Nova shelved indefinitely, fans are left to imagine what might have been.

While Marvel’s decision to pause Nova has disappointed fans, Cavill’s supporters are already shifting their focus to another iconic role: James Bond. The timing couldn’t be more relevant, as Amazon MGM Studios, under the leadership of Jeff Bezos, has taken full creative control of the 007 franchise, sidelining longtime Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. The move, announced today, will see Broccoli and Wilson step after decades at the help of the spy franchise.

This sparked immediate backlash among fans, with many questioning Amazon’s ability to handle the beloved spy series with integrity and stay true to the Bond’s famous characteristics. Bezos, Amazon’s founder and executive chair, has already made his presence felt in the Bond conversation. Taking to X, he directly asked his 6.8 million followers, “Who’d you pick as the next Bond?”.

The responses were was overwhelmingly in favour of Cavill. Fans flooded the replies with gifs and photos of the British actor, reigniting the long-standing campaign for him to take on the role. One fan summed it up, tweeting: “Henry Cavill is Bond. It’s not even a question anymore.” Cavill has previously expressed interest in playing Bond.

During an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show last year while promoting The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare - where he played a character partially based on the real-life inspiration for Bond - Cavill addressed the rumors head-on. “I have no idea, all I’ve got to go off is the rumors. The same information you have,” Cavill said. “Maybe I’m too old now, maybe I’m not, we’ll see. It’s up to Barbara Broccoli and Mike Wilson, but we’ll see what their plans are.”.

When Eisen pointed out that Cavill was already playing the man Bond was based on, Cavill quipped, “Seems like a good first step, yeah?”. Now, with Amazon taking the baton, the decision no longer rests with Broccoli and Wilson. And the streaming giant already has a strong relationship with Cavill, having collaborated with him on projects like The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare and the upcoming Warhammer 40,000 series.

This existing partnership, combined with Bezos’ apparent interest in fan sentiment, could give Cavill a significant edge in the race to become the next 007. As for concerns about Cavill’s age, the actor is currently 47. Daniel Craig was 37 when Casino Royale was filmed in 2006 and held the role for 15 years.

Cavill previously auditioned for the role opposite Craig impressing director Martin Campbell. “He looked great. His acting was tremendous,” Campbell told Daily Express. “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 back then.”.

If Cavill started tomorrow and followed a similar timeline to Craig’s, he’d be 62 by the end of his tenure - an age that seems perfectly feasible for a suave, seasoned Bond. However, Amazon may opt to go younger, with names like Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 34, and Taron Egerton, 35, also believed to be in the mix.