Dave Bautista Confirms Exit From ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’s’ Drax: “It’s A Silly Performance, And I Want To Do More Dramatic Stuff”
John F. Trent
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Actor Dave Bautista, who has played Drax the Destroyer in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies confirmed he will no longer be playing the role following the release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
(L-R): Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Dave Bautista as Drax, Karen Gillan as Nebula in Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.
Speaking with GQ about his acting career, Bautista stated, “I’m so grateful for Drax. I love him. But there’s a relief [that it’s over].”
He added, “It wasn’t all pleasant. It was hard playing that role. The makeup process was beating me down. And I just don’t know if I want Drax to be my legacy—it’s a silly performance, and I want to do more dramatic stuff.”
(L-R): Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Dave Bautista as Drax, Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), Karen Gillan as Nebula, and Pom Klementieff as Mantis in Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.
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The more dramatic stuff appears to be work with director Denis Villeneuve.
Bautista indicated he would work for the director for free telling the outlet, “If I could be a number one [on the callsheet] with Denis, I would do it for f***ing free.”
“I think that’s how I could find out how good I could be. He brings out the best in me. He sees me in a different light, sees the performer that I want to be. That might be how I solve the puzzle,” Bautista explained.
Dave Bautista as Beast Rabban in Dune (2021), Warner Bros. Pictures
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Bautista previously indicated that Marvel Studios saw no value in either him or the character of Drax back in 2019.
In response to an article from GQ South Africa reporting on Bautista’s desire to play Clayface in a standalone film, the actor tweeted, ““Point is I freaking love comic book characters and I want a stand alone. Marvel Studios doesn’t see worth in Drax or possibly myself or both but I’m not giving up.”
He added, “I missed out on a DC project because of scheduling conflicts but hopefully there’s other characters & opportunities.”
Dave Bautista Twitter
In fact, Bautista went so far as to claim he would step out of the role of Drax in order to get a Drax solo film off the ground.
He tweeted, “Drax is funny as hell! Hes also The Destroyer which is terrifying as hell. His wife and daughter were murdered! He mourns them and craves revenge!! NO! No movie there at all. I literally would step out of this f***ing role to see that movie! Which most likely would get it made.”
Dave Bautista Twitter
However, he went on to note he did not plan on stepping out of the role at that time.
Bautista tweeted, “No I wasn’t planning on trying to step out of the role. Im just saying if it was a case where“someone”didn’t want to invest in me but wanted to make the movie with someone else,I’d be happy to step aside. Safe bet that someone else would be a white guy named Chris.”
Dave Bautista Twitter
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The actor had also previously told Ellen DeGeneres that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 would be his final film as Drax.
He told her, ““It will. It’s weird because when I said it. I said it recently because I’ve been doing interviews and talking a lot about Guardians. And I didn’t think it was going to be news because I figured everybody assumed that this is how this works.”
“We work in trilogies, and James Gunn has already announced that it’s his last film, and when James is done, I’m done,” he asserted.
He also added, “And I’m also going to be 54 years old by the time Guardians 3 comes out. And just like the shirtless thing is getting harder and harder for me.”
“The journey has come full circle, and I’m just ready to kind of step aside and wrap it up,” he concluded.
Chukwudi Iwuji as The High Evolutionary in Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.
Bautista played Drax in the original Guardians of the Galaxy film and went on to reprise the role in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: End Game, Thor: Love and Thunder, and The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special.
He concludes his role as Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which is due to hit theaters on May 5, 2023.
(L-R): Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Karen Gillan as Nebula, and Dave Bautista as Drax in Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.
The official synopsis for the film states, “In Marvel Studios Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 our beloved band of misfits are looking a bit different these days.”
It adds, “Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.”
Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord in Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.
What do you make of Bautista hanging up the role of Drax after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3?