‘This Is A Bittersweet Conversation’: Dave Bautista Reveals What He Wishes Had Been Done Differently With Marvel’s Drax The Destroyer

by

In 2014, Dave Bautista didn’t exactly start his career with Guardians of the Galaxy, but it was this role as Drax the Destroyer in the tenth Marvel film that truly launched him into Hollywood stardom. Over the next several years, he reprised this character for a total of seven appearances, wrapping up Drax’s storyline in 2023 with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. However, Bautista has openly expressed his displeasure about how Drax was developed, and recently spoke about what changes he believes could have been made for a more satisfying portrayal of the character within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

During an interview with journalist Jake Hamilton about his upcoming film “In the Lost Lands,” set for release next week on the 2025 schedule, Bautista was inquired about which of his past movies he would find intriguing to be told through the character’s perspective he portrayed. He picked Drax the Destroyer, stating:

Among all the characters, Drax seems to be the most compelling choice. I strongly feel that if given the chance, Drax could narrate an intriguing tale – a mix of joy and sadness for me, as I’ve often felt there was a rich backstory waiting to unfold. Unfortunately, Marvel didn’t seem to share this sentiment, which left me frustrated.

Dave Bautista’s dissatisfaction with Drax’s character arc in the Marvel Cinematic Universe started in 2021, when he voiced his disappointment to a fan about how the character’s storyline with Thanos unfolded on social media. In January 2023, Bautista expressed relief that his time as Drax had ended, largely due to the challenging makeup process. However, by September 2024, he stated that he no longer missed playing Drax, but he did miss the close-knit family atmosphere he’d developed with director/writer James Gunn, Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Pom Klementieff, Karen Gillan, and Sean Gunn.

It’s too bad that playing Drax the Destroyer didn’t meet Bautista’s hopes. Given his role in an ensemble cast, there’s limited screen time for Drax, but it’s understandable why the actor might be disappointed that Marvel Studios haven’t delved deeper into Drax’s character. I agree with him; it would have been intriguing to see a more comprehensive portrayal of Drax’s story. A Special Presentation on Disney+, similar to The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, could have been an exciting way to explore this further.

Although Drax was no longer part of his plans, Dave Bautista earlier this month hinted at considering a new role within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), even after what seemed like a heartfelt departure in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The actor has also shown interest in collaborating with James Gunn again, now that he’s overseeing DC Studios along with producer Peter Safran. If Bautista re-enters the superhero scene, we’ll keep you updated on any developments.

Read More

2025-02-26 16:07