It’s no secret why Dave Bautista is ready to leave the MCU.
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. The 3” actor has discussed his upcoming final appearance as Drax the Destroyer in the Marvel series after nearly a decade in the role.
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“I am so grateful for Drax. I love him,” Bautista said in a GQ cover story. “But there is relief. [that it’s over]. Everything was not pleasant. It was difficult to play that role. The makeup process was destroying me. And I don’t know if I want Drax to be my legacy – it’s a silly performance and I want to do something more dramatic.”
“Guardians of the Galaxy” was Bautista’s first major role since leaving WWE in 2010.
“I had to pull over because I cried so much,” Bautista said, when he learned the role had fallen to the floor on his way to the gym. “I quickly turned around and walked into my house trembling to tell my wife I had gotten the part, and we were both standing there like crazy.”
Bautista said he doesn’t think he’s getting “equal opportunities” with fellow pro wrestler headliner John Cena, who has appeared in previous WWE movies and commercials.
“Before I left WWE, Stone Cold Steve Austin pulled me aside and said, ‘You’ll get offers for scary scenarios. The money will be tempting. Don’t fall into this trap,'” said the “Glass Onion: A Knife Out Mystery” star. “I never wanted to be the next Rock. “I just want to be a good actor. A respectable actor.”
Bautista continued, “To be honest, I might even care. [about being a movie star]. I don’t live a very big, glamorous life. I live here in Tampa. I don’t care about the spotlight, I don’t care about the fame. I just want to be a better actor. I ask for respect from my peers. I don’t need compliments – I really don’t, man. It’s about experience, about knowing that I’ve accomplished something.”
The “Dune: Part Two” and “A Knock at the Cabin” actor previously completed production on “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” in May 2022 and has been dubbed “a journey that changed my life”.
Bautista also said that during the “Ellen” show, the movies were “going full circle” and were ready to “step aside” from Marvel. “James Gunn has already announced that this is his last movie, and when James is done, I’m done,” Bautista said. Gunn works with his WWE graduate friend, Cena, on the “Peacemaker” DC series.
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