d+ “My heart stopped, it’s true” — Henry Cavill Confessed the Emotional Phone Call That Erased His Decade of James Bond and Batman Near-Misses.
HOLLYWOOD, CA—For years, Henry Cavill carried the unofficial title of “the unluckiest man in Hollywood,” a label earned through a string of devastating near-misses for the biggest roles in cinema. But the decade of painful close calls—which saw him almost cast as James Bond and Superman multiple times—was finally erased by a single, cathartic phone call from Director Zack Snyder, a moment the actor admitted made his “heart stopped” and caused him to “cry non-stop.”
Cavill’s eventual triumph as Clark Kent/Superman in 2013’s Man of Steel was cemented by the raw, emotional magnitude of the confirmation, which validated years of professional persistence.
The Heartbreak of the Near-Misses
Before donning the famous cape, Cavill was perpetually the runner-up for iconic franchise roles, often losing out in the final audition stages:
- James Bond (2006): Cavill was a final contender for the role of the super-spy in Casino Royale, ultimately losing to Daniel Craig. Producers reportedly favoured the older Craig, but the screen test significantly raised Cavill’s profile.
- Superman (2006): He was initially cast as the lead in the cancelled Superman: Flyby film, and later shortlisted for Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns, which instead starred Brandon Routh.
- Batman (2005): There are reports he was also considered for the role of Batman in Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, a role that went to Christian Bale.
This pattern of rejection—being “close, but no cigar” for three of the biggest movie roles of the early 2000s—meant that when the opportunity for Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel arose, Cavill approached the lengthy process with an emotional guard up. The audition process famously included a screen test where Cavill wore a replica of the original Christopher Reeve Superman suit.
The Critical Dungeon Run: Almost Missing Destiny
In a twist that would become a favourite anecdote among his fans, the professional World of Warcraft (WoW) enthusiast nearly missed the call that would change his life.
- Notable Event/Data: On the day director Zack Snyder called to offer him the role, Cavill was deeply engrossed in a critical dungeon run while playing the popular online game World of Warcraft.
- The Snub: Because WoW is a live multiplayer session that cannot be paused, the actor made the ultimate gamer’s choice and ignored the ringing phone, which he later revealed had Zack Snyder’s name on the screen.
- The Apology: When he finally called back, Cavill apologized, jokingly explaining that he was “saving someone’s life” (in the game).
It was during this call that Snyder simply delivered the words: “Well, I was calling to offer you the role,” the simple phrase instantly shattering the emotional defenses Cavill had built over a decade of near-misses. The profound shock and release of finally achieving the role he had been seeking—the Man of Steel—was so powerful that Cavill confessed he hung up the phone and “cried non-stop” for a period, a final, cathartic acknowledgment of his long struggle.
Man of Steel, which also starred Amy Adams as Lois Lane, went on to gross $670 million worldwide against a $225 million budget, successfully launching the DC Extended Universe and cementing Henry Cavill’s ultimate triumph as one of Hollywood’s leading men.
