Drax Actor Dave Bautista Says He Hasn't Talked To James Gunn About Joining The DCU But Is That Truly The Case?

Drax Actor Dave Bautista Says He Hasn't Talked To James Gunn About Joining The DCU But Is That Truly The Case?

Dave Bautista previously starred as Drax in James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy and hinted back in November about a DC role but he's apparently not spoken to Gunn about it.

By MarkJulian - Feb 04, 2024 02:02 PM EST
Filed Under: DC Studios

Back in November, Dave Bautista took to social media to seemingly hint that he'd spoken to James Gunn on the WB lot, who had just assumed the role of co-chair of DC Studios. Gunn also re-shared Bautista's post, lighting up social media with tons of speculation about who Bautista could portray in the DCU.

Now, Bautista is singing a different tune.

In a new interview with Comic Book, Bautista was asked which could occur first- him being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame or signing up for a role in the DCU?

Bautista replied, "I couldn't give you an honest answer to that because I think…And, I'm only gonna say this because we've had conversations, over the years, it would [be] the WWE Hall of Fame. I was supposed to go in last year and I was on a film and I just couldn't travel. I was on a film in South Africa and logistically we just couldn't make it happen. So, you know, and I haven't talked to James about the DC Universe.

He went on to add, "I would love to work with James again, whether it's DC Universe or not. I just love James Gunn. He's an incredible director and we have a camaraderie that's priceless. So to work with him again ? I mean I'd do it for free. But, we just haven't had the conversations. He's on top of DC now. He's doing his thing. I'm trying to grind along in my processing. But, I'm always open-minded too and I've expressed that to him."

Again, we'll point back to Bautista's social media post back in November which the Dune actor had to know would illicit a ton of rumors and speculation. Gunn also had to know that him re-posting the photo would only add fuel to the fire. 

So for Bautista to follow up three months later and state he and Gunn haven't discussed any possibilities is a tough pill to swallow.

Bautista did previously state that he's spoken with Gunn about portraying Bane in the DCU but that was reportedly before Gunn became the co-chair of DC Studios. Bautista made these comments back to Insider in January 2023 and later had his publicist clarify that those discussions were before Gunn became the co-CEO of Warner Bros' DC division. 

"I have had conversations with James about[playing Bane] but I think the direction he’s leaning in, completely rebooting that whole universe, he’s starting from scratch and starting younger and fresher and I think you need to do that. I think for the DC Universe to be revived, you need to start from scratch, and I think you need to start with younger actors. You need to start to plan for the next 15 years, and I just don’t think you can do that with me. And I understand that."

So why now is Bautista seemingly going out of his way to say that he and Gunn have had zero conversations about the DCU?  Could he be nervous about giving something away so he's opting to state that he's hasn't spoken to Gunn about the DCU? 

Let us know what you think in the comment section below.

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McMurdo
McMurdo - 2/4/2024, 2:48 PM
I'm sure it's innevitable he is in at some point down the road
slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 2/4/2024, 2:52 PM
James Gunn loves reusing actors he likes so this we’ll tell us if he likes Dave.
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 2/4/2024, 2:55 PM
Wouldn't mind seeing him as Hugo Strange.
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 2/4/2024, 7:09 PM
@ModHaterSLADE - I mean they are both bald sure… but I think Hugo Strange requires someone with more range.
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 2/4/2024, 7:25 PM
@Urubrodi - Well good thing he actually has some acting range then...
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 2/4/2024, 7:31 PM
@ModHaterSLADE - I didn't say that he has no acting range, I said Strange would require someone with more. Whenever I think of the character, the Arkham City version always comes to mind and I can't see Dave doing that justice, but maybe I'm wrong... I've seen him in Guardians, Glass Onion, Blade Runner 2049, 007, Dune... maybe I missed something where he gave a more complex performance. Anyways it's not like I'd be angry if he got it though.
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 2/4/2024, 7:45 PM
@Urubrodi - I'm sure he has more than enough acting range for a villain in a Batman movie if he can do Blade Runner justice. Now if it was the lead for Macbeth or some deep character study I'd agree with you.
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 2/4/2024, 8:00 PM
@ModHaterSLADE - The Blade Runner role was minor, didn't require much, let's be fair. If we were talking about someone like Bane I'd say sure, but Hugo Strange's main thing is his intellect, he basically discovers Batman's identity just by being smart. Dave hasn't played a character like that yet, so it's hard to see it.
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 2/4/2024, 8:14 PM
@Urubrodi - It's not like he came off as a dummy in Blade Runner, and came off as pretty intelligent to me in that role but to each their own.
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 2/5/2024, 7:22 AM
@ModHaterSLADE - Not coming off as a dummy and being able to play a genius like character are completely different things imo, but yes to each their own.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 2/4/2024, 2:59 PM
I think he’ll eventually join the DCU , just a matter of time i feel.

He would make a good Bane but I have a few other suggestions he could be aswell such as

Ted Grant/Wildcat
Hugo Strange
Atrocitus
Kilowog
Vandal Savage.

What do you guys think?.
Arthorious
Arthorious - 2/4/2024, 6:19 PM
@TheVisionary25 - I wouldn’t mind him as Bane. Got the size and he could portray Bane’s sheer cunning intellect
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 2/4/2024, 6:24 PM
@Arthorious - agreed.
Origame
Origame - 2/4/2024, 3:01 PM
Cast him as wonder woman already.
BobGarlen
BobGarlen - 2/4/2024, 3:26 PM
Honestly, I'd like to see Dave as a character like Darkseid. I know he's said he wants to be able to relax on his workout and physique, and Darkseid being an all CG character would allow that. But as far as talent, between what I've seen of him in Blade Runner 2049 and Dune, I think he could handle a role like Darkseid and do as well as Vincent D'Onofrio does for Kingpin. Unconventional but potentially iconic.
marvel72
marvel72 - 2/4/2024, 3:50 PM
Cast Dave as Mongul or Bane.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 2/4/2024, 5:00 PM
@marvel72 - I wouldn't mind seeing Mongul. Think he'd make for an interesting endgame threat for Chapter 1
Nolanite
Nolanite - 2/4/2024, 3:53 PM
Bring him onboard as some random thug that Batman beats up in some alley somewhere.
Nolanite out
CAPTAINPINKEYE
CAPTAINPINKEYE - 2/4/2024, 4:06 PM
Brainiac or Bizzaro
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 2/4/2024, 7:10 PM
@CAPTAINPINKEYE - Bane works better.
CAPTAINPINKEYE
CAPTAINPINKEYE - 2/4/2024, 8:05 PM
@Urubrodi - I think he said in an interview that he feels he’s too old to do Bane now.
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 2/5/2024, 7:23 AM
@CAPTAINPINKEYE - Oh didn't know that, fair enough. Personally don't see him as Brainiac, maybe Bizzaro.
marvel72
marvel72 - 2/4/2024, 4:19 PM
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bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 2/4/2024, 5:05 PM
I believe Dave that he's not gonna do anything DC-related soon, but they definitely talked. Bet they atleast discussed their current job positions and their futures as friends at one point.
hainesy
hainesy - 2/5/2024, 12:02 PM
Bane is obvious and if they keep the mask on him, they can hide the age. A non CGI Solomon Grundy, Mongul, Metallo, Bizzaro, etc could also work. But I think Gunn will lean on his acting more than his size. So I could see Ra's Al Ghul, Zsasz, Mr Freexe, etc.

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