Jason Momoa Confirms Auditioning And Turning Down 'Drax' Role In GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

Jason Momoa Confirms Auditioning And Turning Down 'Drax' Role In GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

Acknowledging for the first time that he was up for the role, Conan the Barbarian actor Jason Momoa reminisces about his Guardians of the Galaxy audition, reading with Star-Lord Chris Pratt and more.

By DCMarvelFreshman - Feb 25, 2014 08:02 AM EST
Source: Zap2it

Sometime last year, Jason Momoa surfaced as a top contender for the role of Drax the Destroyer in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, and while the role ultimately went to Dave Bautista, Momoa had reportedly declined Marvel's offer. This was of course debunked not only by the Conan the Barbarian actor himself, but also director James Gunn. Well, speaking with Zap2it, he admitted to auditioning and even reading alongside Star-Lord actor Chris Pratt. "I think it's perfectly cast," said Jason Momoa while promoting his new drama The Red Road. "Dave is perfect for that role, for Drax. It didn't really fit in my time because I've done so many things where I don't say much and I'm colored up and I have my shirt off again. I made a conscious choice to turn down some movies that were action-based to direct Road to Paloma so people could see that side."

"I want my children to see their father happy," he said of not signing on to play Drax. "It's not that it's not a good role, it just wasn't the right thing. I was on Stargate: Atlantis for four years playing a similar character called Ronon, who was an alien who didn't say much and grunted. I've been there and done that, whether people have seen it or not. You want to stretch."

As for the Guardians of the Galaxy leading man Chris Pratt, who plays Peter Quill aka Star-Lord, Jason Momoa had nothing but nice to things to say. "One of the funnest auditions I've ever done in my life was with him," Momoa said. "He's phenomenal. He's going to kill it. It's going to be amazing. It's a whole Han Solo vibe. It's going to be a phenomenal movie. I'm glad that he is the lead of that. He's funny as hell, man. He can improv; he just acts circles around me. It was really, really fantastic." Despite turning down the opportunity to join Marvel's epic space opera, Jason Momoa says there are still some comic book movie roles he'd like to tackle. "There's definitely some, absolutely," he says. "I was a huge comic book fan, and I still am. I'm not going to tell you the ones I collect, because then you'd know," he added with a laugh, referring to a certain role in an upcoming comic book movie that he's currently aiming for. Mostly likely, this film is Warner Bros.' untitled Batman Vs. Superman movie, for which Jason Momoa has been rumored for various roles from Doomsday and Martian Manhunter to Aquaman. What do you think?

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits–Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon, Groot, a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Peter discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand - with the galaxy’s fate in the balance. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is presented by Marvel Studios and stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper as the voice of Rocket, Vin Diesel as the voice of Groot, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gilian, Djimon Hounsou with John C. Reilly, Glenn Close as Commander Rael and Benicio del Toro as The Collector. Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, the film opens August 1, 2014.

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Pasto
Pasto - 2/25/2014, 8:46 AM
Thats good, he holds no animosity towards Bautista.
SuperCat
SuperCat - 2/25/2014, 8:52 AM
"The Red Road" looks like it may be pretty good. Going to check it out.
cipher
cipher - 2/25/2014, 8:58 AM


"Optional" Horse-like laugh? What the f*ck does that even mean?
Shroombeast
Shroombeast - 2/25/2014, 8:59 AM
I like him, I hope he plays a Marvel role in the future. I'd love to see him play Conan again but I highly doubt that will ever happen.
Pheezmatic
Pheezmatic - 2/25/2014, 9:02 AM
yea what shadowpimp said.
JoeMomma29
JoeMomma29 - 2/25/2014, 9:02 AM
That is one solid resume........
cipher
cipher - 2/25/2014, 9:02 AM
Apparently, he's a man who emits a pleasant aroma.
Brainiac13
Brainiac13 - 2/25/2014, 9:03 AM
@cipher

LOL!

Its like my CV....hahahhah. Classic.
JoeMomma29
JoeMomma29 - 2/25/2014, 9:03 AM
@ ShadowPimp and Pheezmatic

Ummmm I hope you guys are being sarcastic because that is just a hilarious resume.....
Pheezmatic
Pheezmatic - 2/25/2014, 9:04 AM
@cipher LMAOOO...well i'd hire him..
Pheezmatic
Pheezmatic - 2/25/2014, 9:05 AM
@JoeMomma well i was actually referring to SP's first comment..but yea it is [frick]in hilarious.
aevelasquez
aevelasquez - 2/25/2014, 9:08 AM
Cue the bullshitters in denial saying that they'd rather have Bautista in the movie.

[frick] no. No one in their right mind would have that opinion.
OpticBlastWins
OpticBlastWins - 2/25/2014, 9:11 AM
Cipher I gave you that in confidence. Da fak bro
NightWatcher
NightWatcher - 2/25/2014, 9:12 AM
Ineedrevelation
Ineedrevelation - 2/25/2014, 9:13 AM
Mamoa for Kratos!!!

Kratos photo: Kratos KRATOS.jpg
spidey1994
spidey1994 - 2/25/2014, 9:16 AM
Jason Momoa would have been a great Drax. Funnily enough, Vin Diesel was my top choice for Drax, but now he's Groot which is also great casting. Batista is only cast member I'm worried about, was never a fan of him even in WWE.
cipher
cipher - 2/25/2014, 9:17 AM
OpticBlastWins- Hahaha, sorry bro. At least the ladies know you're a sexy dancer, though.

;P
JoeMomma29
JoeMomma29 - 2/25/2014, 9:18 AM
LMAO!!!! The dude shed 30 pounds like a snake.........
sKeemAn
sKeemAn - 2/25/2014, 9:19 AM
Momoa for Lobo!
DaVinci31
DaVinci31 - 2/25/2014, 9:21 AM
So what you're telling me is that we need to raid Momoa's house for his comics?
McNyagano
McNyagano - 2/25/2014, 9:24 AM
Didn't he want more money?
BaneSmash
BaneSmash - 2/25/2014, 9:26 AM
So [frick]en what if he wanted more money! Marvel a cash cow and don't blame him for wanting a fair share.
CaptainComicBook
CaptainComicBook - 2/25/2014, 9:27 AM
Honestly, I'm not overwhelmed by most of the visuals I've seen from GOTG so far. Bautista as Drax is definitely the exception though. It's hard to say how good he'll be until we hear him read some dialogue but visually speaking, I'm very impressed. Perfect casting.

 photo ezgif-save.gif
TheClemster
TheClemster - 2/25/2014, 9:28 AM
so was el mayimbe right then???
BaneSmash
BaneSmash - 2/25/2014, 9:28 AM
I bet Bautista was dirt cheap!!!
JoeMomma29
JoeMomma29 - 2/25/2014, 9:29 AM
@ BaneSmash

Agree! Any actor has to get as much as possible after their Agent takes their share and then taxes well you know the rest of the story.

And yeah hopefully the rumors that Momoa talking to WB/DC is true, then again you know once he is casted the same people on this thread will bash him and DC.
ALF9001
ALF9001 - 2/25/2014, 9:32 AM
If he doesnt get the BvS role he's going to be really pissed
Pheezmatic
Pheezmatic - 2/25/2014, 9:34 AM
@Nightwatcher

LMAO...for some reason that gif cracks me up lol
Spock
Spock - 2/25/2014, 9:34 AM
He may have denied it in the past. But it makes since, about the character development that he should branch out. He was GREAT ON StarGate Atlantis!
CherryBomb
CherryBomb - 2/25/2014, 9:35 AM

He has a point.
I think Jason would've been fantastic, but Dave fits the silent, strong-guy type that the film is going for.
figuresmaniac
figuresmaniac - 2/25/2014, 9:35 AM
Ka-zar
xfan320
xfan320 - 2/25/2014, 9:35 AM
Momoa would definitely had been an awesome Drax...his face is just a little scarier than Bautista's...


I'm sorry, but I don't find Dave Bautista threatening AT ALL... He just doesn't have the same intensity Momoa could've brought...
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