Guardians of the Galaxy star Dave Bautista detailed how he was cast in Denis Villeneuve's Dune remake. After numerous pandemic-related delays, the highly anticipated film is set to premiere in theatres and on HBO Max this fall.
Villeneuve, who notably directed Arrival and Sicario, wrote the newest Dune adaptation alongside Eric Roth (A Star Is Born, Forrest Gump) and Jon Spaihts (Doctor Strange). The film holds a $165 million budget and will cover the first half of Frank Herbert’s iconic 1965 science-fiction novel of the same name. Dune takes place roughly 20,000 years in the future on a planet called Arrakis. The sparsely populated planet contains a much-coveted drug that can extend human life and enhance mental abilities.
Bautista plays Glossu Rabban, the violent and sadistic nephew to the villainous Baron Vladimir Harkonnen. Paul L. Smith and László I. Kish previously portrayed the character in David Lynch’s 1984 Dune adaptation and the 2000 miniseries, respectively. Bautista, who previously had a small role in Villeneuve's Blade Runner 2049, told Collider that he desperately wanted to be involved in the project. “We tracked that movie for months because I wanted to be a part of it so bad,” said Bautista, while adding, “I never reached out, because I don’t want to be that guy, like 'Hey, Denis, is there a part for me?'”
Bautista was shocked when the Oscar-nominated director reached out and offered the role on the spot. The Dune star recounted how was taken aback when Villeneuve straight up asked if would be interesting in playing the role of Glossu Rabban, so much so that he did not know how to respond except by saying, "Yes." Bautista couldn’t wait to start production as he was “blown away” by the film’s script and was emotionally invested in the characters. It remains unseen how instrumental Bautista's character will be in the upcoming adaption. Dune's impressive cast also includes Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Stellan Skarsgård, Zendaya, David Dastmalchian, Javier Bardem, Charlotte Rampling, and Josh Brolin.
The 52-year-old Bautista has a busy few years in front of him. He will next be seen in Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead and will reprise his role as Drax the Destroyer in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Thor: Love And Thunder. The third installment in the Guardians franchise is expected to begin filming later this year.
It was recently reported that Bautista would star in Knives Out 2 alongside Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Kathryn Hahn, and Janelle Monáe. The original grossed $311 million worldwide and received a Best Original Screenplay nomination at the 92nd Academy Awards. Netflix paid around $450 million for the rights to Knives Out 2 and Knives Out 3 in a deal that grants director Rian Johnson creative control on the franchise.
Dune is scheduled for theatrical release on October 1, 2021. It will also be available on HBO Max the same day for a month-long run.
Source: Collider