With Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 on the horizon, Dave Bautista says farewell to Drax, the character that jump started his acting career. Even so, 2023 will be a big year for the actor, as Bautista is featured in many upcoming films that he hopes will push him towards performance driven roles and offer further complexity than what his character Drax is known for, which will help him become the type of actor he wants to be.
Bautista had previously posted on Twitter that his time as Drax would end in Guardians 3. The Marvel character had much more emotional weight in the comics, and although that complexity was there in the first Guardians film, James Gunn turned Drax into comedic relief. This decision on how the character should be handled made its way into other MCU films, which proved to be more digestible to a general audience. However, it is not surprising to see that Bautista is looking to move on from Drax as a result.
Dave Bautista sat down with GQ for an exclusive interview regarding the dedication, determination, and hardships of his career, and expressed his desire to be seen as a well-respected actor. Bautista cites his career goals for why he is leaving the role of Drax after six MCU films and a Holiday Special. Previously, the actor had opened up about his desire for Drax to be the one to kill Thanos in Avengers: Endgame, as that would have allowed his character’s arc to be fulfilled. Bautista reflects on his time with the character, and expresses gratitude towards the opportunities that it has given him, but he hopes to distinguish himself from other WWE turned actors and movie stars. He just wants to be seen as a quality actor that is respected by his peers, and also be given the opportunity to continue working with director Denis Villeneuve.
I’m so grateful for Drax. I love him... But there’s a relief [that it’s over]. 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.
If Bautista's filmography is any indication, he is certainly more than just another wrestler-turned-actor, as his talent has led him to work with directors like Villeneuve, Zack Snyder, and Rian Johnson. After having directed Glass Onion, Johnson described Bautista as the best wrestler turned actor, and M. Night Shyamalan may agree with this sentiment, since he praised Bautista’s acting abilities in his upcoming film, Knock at the Cabin.
Not wanting to be seen as a one-trick pony, it is not surprising that Bautista wants to move on from a character that he's played for nine years. The actor clearly has a desire for more serious roles, which can be amplified when there is a genuine passion for acting. It was last reported that Bautista campaigned for a Gears of War movie, but regardless of what the actor does next, audiences will want to catch his last performance as Drax in the upcoming MCU film.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is scheduled to hit theaters on May 5, 2023.
Source: GQ
