Henry Cavill Was 'Too Chubby' To Play James Bond
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His New Men's Health Cover
In order to promote his upcoming Netflix series The Witcher, Henry Cavill did a cover spread with Men's Health and quickly reminded people why he was hired to play a superhero.
Cavill expresses his excitement over the upcoming fantasy series, explaining that he is a fan of the source material and the genre in general.
"I like that realm. These characters matter a lot to people, and they matter a lot to me.
Is the world ready for his white haired Geralt of Rivia, monster hunter extraordinaire?
He Was A 'Chubby' Kid
Cavill explained that he was a heavier kid, earning him the nickname "Fat Cavill."
"I was a chubby kid. I could’ve very well gone down the route of just accepting my lot in life and being like, ‘I guess I’m not going to do anything.’"
However, he discovered that he loved sports which helped him slim down, and then he found that his true love was acting.
"It actually helped me survive. Even the kids who were nasty to me at times and took pleasure in squashing me—when I finished a play, they’d say, ‘Wow, you’re really good.’ And I was like, ‘Okay, this is where I draw my strength from.’"
Missing Out On Bond
While it may seem like he's carved from a block of marble now, but Cavill explained that he missed out on playing James Bond in the 2000s, losing the role to Daniel Craig.
According to Cavill, it was because he wasn't in shape. During his audition, he had to recreate an old Sean Connery scene and come out of a bathroom wearing nothing but a towel, and the director was less than impressed.
"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."
Cavill explained that the experience pushed him to really get into shape, something that he takes great pride in.
"I know what it feels like to go from out of shape to in shape and [afterward] I’ll look at myself like, ‘Man, well done.’ It’s not like I’m a golden god—I’m just proud of what I achieved. And then you can take your clothes off in front of your significant other, and they’re like, ‘Goddamn, you look great!’ Like, ‘Yes! I’m making other people happy.’"
Is He Done Playing Superman?
Part of the interview took place in a comic book shop, and Cavill admitted that he's "been quite disconnected from all of this for quite a while. I’m very behind."
Of course, the interview eventually turned to whether or not he'll return to the screen as Superman, and Cavill seems to be both cagey and optimistic. When asked about the news that they were planning to recast, Cavill responded, "the cape is in the closet. It’s still mine."
