Actor Dave Bautista is wrapping up his run as Drax in the next Guardians of the Galaxy movie. He’s played the role for nine years in six movies and the recent Guardians of the Galaxy holiday special. Speaking to GQ, Bautista said he is “so grateful for Drax,” but is ready to step away.
“I love him,” he said. “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.”
Speaking of dramatic work, Rian Johnson–who directed Bautista in Glass Onion–is quoted in the story saying that it’s only a matter of time before Bautista takes on a more dramatic and serious role.
“I keep telling all my filmmaker friends that someone is going to give Dave a real dramatic lead role in a movie, and they’re going to look like a genius,” Johnson said.
Also in the interview, Bautista recalled the moment he learned he was cast as Drax all those years ago. Bautista was in his car driving to the gym. “I had to pull over because I was crying so hard,” he said. “I turned right back around and walked into my house shaking to tell my wife I had gotten the role, and we were both standing there freaking out.”
Fans will see Bautista as Drax one last time in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in May 2023. Outside of the Marvel series, Bautista is lobbying to Netflix to cast him as Marcus Fenix in the Gears of War movie.
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