Dave Bautista has revealed that he will be turning his attention to more "serious" movie roles and that he never wanted to imitate The Rock, he just wants to be a good actor.
The actor is commonly known for his performances as Drax the Destroyer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe but has recently turned heads in his role in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.
Bautista has recently opened up about how, in May of this year, he will be saying farewell to Marvel, as he seeks to take on more "serious" movie roles. That being said, the star also admitted he is somewhat "relieved" to say goodbye to Drax.
The actor is not only a hit on the big screen, but also had a career in WWE which spanned two decades, in which he was a six-time world champion.
Credit: REUTERS / Alamy
Another star who has formed a name for himself on the big screen following a successful WWE career is Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, who was the world's highest-paid actor in 2022, per Forbes.
Johnson is now a staple in the world of cinema, with a career that most actors would be envious of - but Bautista insists that although he has followed the same path as The Rock from WWE, he doesn't want to imitate anybody else.
In an interview with GQ, he said: "I never wanted to be the next Rock."
He then added: "I just want to be a good f***ing actor. A respected actor."
Of course, despite some social media users sensing some disdain in Bautista's comments, the MCU star never directly said that he believes Rock is a bad actor - just that he is focused on himself and his own career.
Bautista is due to star in M. Night Shyalaman's Knock at the Cabin where he has a sizeable speaking role as he stated: "It’s by far the most I’ve ever spoken in a film."
Dwayne Johnson was the highest-paid actor in 2022. Credit: Michael Melia / Alamy
As GQ reported, the movie's director was more than happy with the performance, signifying that Bautista isn't imitating anybody else's career, but forging a successful one of his own.
Shyalaman said: "It’s a revelatory thing. This anomaly of a person that looks like that and can perform at that level" - with Rhian Johnson, director of Glass Onion, supporting the claim.
Bautista will play Drax for the final time in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 in May 2023. Credit: AJ Pics / Alamy
"I keep telling all my filmmaker friends," Rhian Johnson said, "that someone is going to give Dave a real dramatic lead role in a movie, and they’re going to look like a genius."
Knock at the Cabin is due for release in February of this year where Bautista will star opposite Harry Potter's Rupert Grint.
When he was in the WWF - I mean, WWE - The Rock was "the most electrifying man in sports entertainment." Now he's one of the most electrifying men in all entertainment.
Sure, other wrestlers made the jump to the big screen before him, like Hulk Hogan in Mr. Nanny, but none conquered Hollywood like The Rock. From the Jumanji reboot to Disney's Moana to The Fast & The Furious franchise, he's proven to be a huge box office draw. Now The Rock is known as Dwayne Johnson, one of the most likable actors in the world, who seems to release a new movie every week.
On the surface, Dave Bautista has a lot in common with Dwayne Johnson. They're both big, muscular, charismatic wrestlers who found a new career in acting. Like The Rock, Bautista's the star of a major studio franchise, playing the hilarious Drax in Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy and The Avengers. (But you might not have seen him. He's very good at acting invisible.) He also just booked the role of Beast Rabban in the epic, star-studded new adaptation of Dune, handled by acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Blade Runner 2049).
However, Bautista's not interested in following The Rock's career path, according to an interview with the Tampa Bay Times. Although he stands 6-foot-4, 265 pounds, he doesn't want to be a movie star. He wants to be a character actor. Over the past few years, Bautista's jumped at the chance to work with Oscar-winning directors, like Jodie Foster (Hotel Artemis) and Sam Mendes (Spectre). He also got a chance to flex his skills in Denis Villeneuve's brilliant Blade Runner 2049, where he played a Replicant posing as an aging protein farmer.
"Do not compare me to The Rock or John Cena. Everyone does it," he told the Tampa Bay Times, adding that he "hates" it. "Those guys are wrestlers who became movie stars," he explained. "I’m...something else. I was a wrestler. Now, I’m an actor. ... Rock was, in a way, a movie star before he was even a movie star. There is something about him that’s really special. I’d never take that away from him. Would I consider him a great actor? F*ck no."
“I want good roles," the 50-year-old continued. "I don’t care about Fast and Furious or Bumblebee. ... That’s not the kind of stardom I want. ... I want to be in Dune. I want to work with Denis Villeneuve. I want to work with Sam Mendes and Jodie Foster. I want to work with Academy Award winners. I’m proud to a character actor. I want that respect and credibility and education."
On last Monday's WWE Raw, Bautista - I mean, Batista - returned to wrestling to attack Ric Flair during his 70th birthday celebration. The cameo might lead to a match with Triple H in Wrestlemania, where he hopes to finish his wrestling career "the right way." (But after reading this interview, wouldn't you rather see Dave Bautista take on The Rock?)
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.
Bautista most recently starred in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. Credit: TOBY MELVILLE / Alamy
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 will be appearing as Drax for the final time in May 2023. Credit: PictureLux / Alamy
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.
Bautista will be turning his attention to other projects, such as the Dune sequel. Credit: dpa / Alamy
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!
Rian Johnson has officially declared Dave Bautista as the greatest wrestler-turned-actor in Hollywood.
Recently, the 49-year-old director was able to work with the 53-year-old former WWE star for the new Knives Out sequel, titled Knives Out: A Glass Onion Mystery.
The film had a limited theatrical release before it was released on Netflix last week, where it has garnered outstanding reviews from both critics and audiences.
Speaking about the movie - which is currently ranked number one on the streaming service - in an interview with The Atlantic, Johnson shared how Bautista was the actor who surprised him most with his performance.
Dave Bautista in Glass Onion. Credit: Album / Alamy
The Guardians of the Galaxy actor appears in the movie as Duke Cody - a men's rights streamer who many people have compared to Joe Rogan.
But, when it came to writing the character, the director had a completely different portrayal in his head. Johnson revealed that Bautista's character was initially written as someone much smaller who was "overcompensating".
"I was picturing a scrawny dude who’s trying to overcompensate," he explained. "When Bautista was brought up, I was instantly so smitten by the idea. I’ve been a very big fan of his dramatic chops as an actor."
Johnson was enamored with Bautista's performance and said that he's predicting more prominent roles for the former WWE Superstar. When writer David Sims referred to him as "low-key the greatest wrestler-to-actor ever," Johnson replied: "I absolutely 100 percent agree."
Of course, other former WWE champions who have turned their attention to the big screen include John Cena, Hulk Hogan, Mike "The Miz" Mizanin, and - of course - Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
"And I think somebody like [Paul Thomas Anderson] is going to give him a real part and is gonna look like a genius," the filmmaker continued. "As a person, Bautista is genuinely, immediately vulnerable when you meet him, and that’s what I was excited about."
"This is someone who has the physical trappings of someone who would play it big, but he actually brings sensitivity to the role," he added.
Bautista as Drax in the Guardians of the Galaxy films. Credit: Cinematic Collection / Alamy
This isn't the first time a director has been impressed with Bautista. He has also received similar praise from James Gunn, the director of the Guardians of the Galaxy films.
According to Today Online, in a now-deleted Twitter thread responding to a question about why Bautista is such a good actor, Gunn responded that he is an actor who values his craft.
Other filmmakers have also seen the potential in the Marvel star. Directors Denis Villeneuve and Zack Snyder have given him significant roles in their respective films Dune and Army of the Dead.
In addition to this, M. Night Shyamalan has recently been among the latest filmmakers to turn to Bautista for a role by casting him for the forthcoming thriller Knock at the Cabin.
Clearly, the former World Heavyweight champion is here to stay. Fans can check out his latest performance in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, now streaming on Netflix.
At this moment in time, former professional wrestler-turned-Hollywood actor Dave Bautista is one of the most sought-after talents in the entertainment industry. It can often be perplexing to non-wrestling folk as to how or why wrestlers would even try to break into Tinsel Town, but if you're a lifelong wrestling fan like myself, it's pretty easy to understand.
During his time in WWE, Dave Bautista - known simply by his ring name "Batista" - accomplished nearly every single accolade possible. He is a former six-time world champion, a former tag-team champion, intercontinental champion, two-time Royal Rumble match winner, and has headlined WrestleMania in front of a live audience of over 100,000 fanatics.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: WWE]]
It is easy for many people to forget that WWE is a billion-dollar behemoth in the world of sport and entertainment, and their wrestlers are born performers who embody a "character" almost every minute of the day - and this is what makes acting come second nature to them.
After originally departing the wrestling business in 2010, many of Bautista's critics believed he would struggle to transition into acting (despite the fact the biggest movie star in the world right now is Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson - a former WWE Superstar in his own right).
In fact, whilst going through several 2010 movie reviews of Bautista's work, I found several reviewers who described his acting as "wooden", and one critic who went as far as to say, "it's a sad state of affairs when professional wrestler Batista pulls out the best performance in your film". I bet that guy feels pretty stupid now...
But the truth is this: when you're 6' 6", 290 lbs, and have experience taking direction and working in front of cameras on a weekly basis, it really is no surprise Bautista hit the hallowed grounds of Hollywood running.
After relatively minor roles in movies like The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption, The Man with the Iron Fists, and Riddick, Bautista soon became an international household name with his portrayal of Drax the Destroyer, one of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. His hilariously dry delivery, impeccable timing, and, at times, emotional anguish, meant he stole the show in nearly all of his scenes.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Marvel]]
If you haven't guessed by now, I'm a pretty big Dave Bautista fan (or "mark" as they say in the wrestling world). Therefore, it was pretty much a dream come true when I got to sit down with the big man himself to discuss his new movie, Final Score.
Firstly, a brief synopsis on the movie. Bautista plays ex-solider Michael Knox, who finds himself forced to use his extensive military skill-set against a revolutionary terrorist group after they threaten the lives of a 35,000-capacity crowd as they watch West Ham United Football Club in the semi-final of the European Cup. (If you follow English football, you'll know that the most unbelievable thing in this movie is the fact West Ham have made it to the semis of a European Cup tournament.)
So, about a week before the movie's release, I found myself in a London hotel, being led into a stuffy room cramped with lighting equipment, promotional posters, an entourage of people whose names I never learned, and sat in front of me was the star of the show" Dave Bautista.
I introduced myself, shook his hand (IT WAS MASSIVE) and took a moment to explain to him that I was a big fan of his work. He thanked me for the comment, I took the seat opposite and we got down to it.
Straight away, I asked Bautista to give me a brief rundown of Final Score, to which he quickly describes it as "Die Hard in a football stadium", which, after seeing the film, is a perfect comparison - it certainly feels like a throwback to action movies from the 80s and 90s. However, Bautista also stressed how the movie has "heart", due to the strong relationship between Knox and his niece, Danni, played by Lara Peake.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Altitude Film Distribution]]
Perhaps one of the most surprising things from the interview was that despite the fact Bautista is a walking action movie, he is incredibly erudite and softly spoken - almost like he's aware that if his voice hits a certain decibel, it'll just sound like a nondescript roar.
All that was going through my head by this point was: "Oh my god, I'm interviewing a former WWE champion", "I literally have an action figure of this man", and "HE IS FRICKIN' HUGE!" Seriously, the man is an absolute tank in-person.
Talking about his time working in the capital, Bautista explained how he "loves working in London" and that the city is "near and dear to [his] heart". This is probably because all the production studios have held him up in Kensington and Richmond and other places where I literally cannot afford the rent.
We then get down to the real point of the interview, as I had entered the room with the full intention of playing a wonderful game regarding British slang. My hope was to have "Big Dave" singing 'Knees Up Mother Brown' and eating jellied eels. The result, however, was much funnier.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: VT]]
Watching a man of Bautista's large stature so confused at terms like, "up the duff" and "Ruby Murray" was fascinating - and his face when I mentioned "Spoons" (an abbreviated term for cheap pub chain Wetherspoons), was an absolute picture. And overall, we both had a good laugh (although, I bet only one of us will remember it for the rest of their life).
I'll admit, Final Score isn't going to win any Oscars. There's a lot in terms of the writing, plot, and action that will divide viewers - but Dave Bautista's stellar performance just isn't up for debate. No longer shall he be referred to as a "former professional wrestler-turned-actor", and simply be known as an "actor".
So if you're after a kick-ass movie to watch on a Friday night as you shovel popcorn into your mouth, then I couldn't recommend it more.
Dave Bautista has revealed that he had a tattoo related to Manny Pacquiao covered up following comments the boxer made about gay people.
Bautista is currently turning heads with his performance in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery after he revealed he wants to take on more serious acting roles.
The 53-year-old stated he has "a lot of love" for Drax but he wants to turn his attention to more serious roles and not have his legacy as the comedic relief in the Marvel universe.
Bautista is set to star in M. Night Shyamalan's Knock at the Cabin later this year. Credit: Gary Mitchell, GMP Media / Alamy
Before taking to the big screen, Bautista was a WWE star who rubbed shoulders with some of the best-known fighters in the world.
He was part of a "team" with professional boxer Manny Pacquiao and even got some permanent ink that displayed the team's logo, per PEOPLE.
However, after Pacquiao made some homophobic comments on Filipino station TV5 in 2016, stating that gay people are "worse than animals," Bautista cut all ties.
"The animals are better. They know how to distinguish male from female," Pacquiao said to the station via PEOPLE. "If we approve [of] male on male, female on female, then man is worse than animals."
Bautista has long been a supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community, and so, he chose to have the tattoo covered in roder to further show that the boxer's comments did not represent him.
"I was part of a team of a person I considered a friend and someone I really looked up to. And then, he later came out publicly with some anti-gay statements and turned out to be an extreme homophobe," Bautista told GQ.
"I had a huge issue with it. It's a personal issue with me, my mom's a lesbian. I just could no longer call him a friend. So, I had it covered up with this," he continued while showing the updated ink of a woman with a skull face painting.
Bautista has also shown his support for the LGBTQIA+ community by posting an image of himself wearing a t-shirt with a rainbow design that states: "Be You."
Bautista is quickly becoming one of our favorite actors both on and off the screen!
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