While Henry Cavill may not be playing Doctor Doom, the actor seems to have had a deja vu moment as Daniel Craig is rumored to be in talks to play the role. Cavill had previously competed with Craig for the role of James Bond in Martin Campbell’s Casino Royale. The two were reportedly top contenders before Craig was chosen as Cavill was too young.

Henry Cavill Might Lose Another Role to Daniel Craig

Henry Cavill as Superman in Man of Steel

After having a messy ten-year tenure as Superman in the DCU, Henry Cavill had to finally depart the role after James Gunn’s new and improved DCU chose to go for a younger Superman. The actor had also exited the role of The Witcher and had recently played Sherlock Holmes in the Enola Holmes franchise.

Earlier this month, Henry Cavill was rumored to have accepted a role in the MCU. The actor was reportedly cast in an undisclosed role. According to popular scooper @ItsMyTimeToShineHello, Cavill was not cast as Doctor Doom but as something else. With the announcement of the main cast of Fantastic Four, fans had been rallying for Cavill to play Doctor Doom in the film.

Henry Cavill in The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

Though Henry Cavill has been campaigned for Doctor Doom by the fans, Marvel seemed to be interested in other actors for the role. While many fans have rallied for Cillian Murphy to be in the role, another British actor seems to be in the running. According to Jeff Snieder, an industry insider, James Bond star Daniel Craig was being tapped to play the supervillain.

Snieder reportedly mentioned that Craig was being eyed for the role of Doctor Doom and was in talks to play the role. The Knives Out star was reportedly almost cast as Balder The Brave in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, with talks going as far as a made costume for the cameo, but he had to back out.

The scooper ItsMyTimeToShineHello, however, countered the rumor that Daniel Craig was playing Victor Von Doom. The insider said that Marvel had someone else in mind for Doctor Doom.

Henry Cavill Was Almost Up For James Bond

Daniel Craig as James Bond in Casino Royale

With Henry Cavill and Daniel Craig in the running for Doctor Doom, the actors might just feel a hint of deja vu as they have done this before. Cavill and Craig were reportedly top contenders for the role of James Bond after the tenure of Pierce Brosnan. The actors were reportedly the final two in the running before Craig was chosen as the next Agent 007.

While Daniel Craig went on to play the role for fifteen years and five films, many reportedly considered Henry Cavill to get the part. Director Martin Campbell, who helmed Daniel Craig’s James Bond debut Casino Royale, mentioned that he liked Cavill a lot, and the only reason the role went to Craig was because he was older. He said to Express UK,

“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.”

Henry Cavill’s Argylle director Matthew Vaughn also mentioned that Henry Cavill was going to be a sure-shot contender for the role as the director was in Pinewood Studios when he auditioned for the role. He said in an interview on SiriusXM,

“I’d go off and meet with Daniel and [I’d] say what’s going on, and he said there’s this young guy, Henry Cavill I think they’re seeing as well…I know that the director preferred your audition. But [producer] Barbara [Broccoli] preferred [Craig]. So, just so you know, and they decided you were too young.”

While Henry Cavill has still campaigned for himself to be cast as the next Bond after Daniel Craig’s exit, he might compete for one more role in the MCU against the actor. However, both stars have been rumored to be considered for different roles in the franchise.