Dave Bautista has revealed that he will be leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe and that he feels relieved to be doing so.
Bautista's acting career has gone from strength to strength in recent years, with his appearance in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery causing a buzz.
The 53-year-old is known to many for his legendary performances as a wrestler in the WWE between 2002 and 2010, before leaving the ring for four years and before making a return in 2014 and having his final match at WrestleMania in 2019.
The grappler-turned-actor is known to many for his portrayal of Drax the Destroyer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), mostly appearing in the Guardians of the Galaxy series.
The role has spanned for nearly a decade, but Bautista has revealed that the upcoming Guardians film will be his last and that there is an eagerness to move on.
In an exclusive interview with GQ, Bautista acknowledged that his acting career has continued on an upward trajectory and that 2023 is looking to be a good year for the star.
Speaking about leaving the MCU and his feelings towards his character, Drax, the actor said: "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."
Bautista - ever wanting to develop his acting ability - spoke to Collider in May 2021 where he aired his frustrations at how Marvel handled Drax's development.
He said: "I really wished they would have invested more in Drax, personally. I think Drax has more of a story to tell. I think Drax has a really interesting backstory, which they dropped the ball on.
"That’s no dig on Marvel. They had their slate, I know what they’re focused on, that’s what they have slated out. But man, I think they really missed the ball on Drax. He has such a great backstory."
Bautista went on to say he wish he would have been given an opportunity to explore Drax more emotionally and physically, as opposed to being a role largely used for comedic relief.
The actor will complete his journey in the MCU in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 in May of this year, before appearing in M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock At The Cabin and then the sequel to Dune in November.
He will be missed in the MCU, but we can't wait to see what Bautista offers in these other projects!
