Sometimes I just don’t understand Hollywood. For instance, why did James Gunn have to fight so hard to be able to cast Dave Bautista in Guardians of the Galaxy? Vin Diesel who is one of my very favorite actors scored the role of Groot and he only says a few words. James Gunn casting choices have been awesome in my book. Look where Chris Pratt started (Parks and Rec) and he was not in the shape he is now. So it came as a surprise when a fan asked Gunn on Twitter, “What’s a decision you had to fight tooth and nail for on a movie? Like looking back you still wonder why did the studio fight so hard against it?”, Gunn replied by naming the casting of Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer.
“I’d say hiring @DaveBautista on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 1. The first thing Kevin Feige told me after seeing the first cut is how right I was about him.”
I’d say hiring @DaveBautista on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 1. The first thing Kevin Feige told me after seeing the first cut is how right I was about him. https://t.co/Bl487SSekN
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) February 19, 2021
Dave Bautista is best known for his years spent wrestling in the WWE. He also showed up here and there in movies like The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption, and The Heist. Notice those were villain castings, so maybe MCU executives were a little leery on casting the former wrestler in a big-budget movie. On top of that, it was a very stand-out role.
Gunn was on point though, in this casting, there is no doubt. Bautista absolutely turned the role of Drax into something awesome and remarkable. He may be big but his comic timing is decisive and on point.
Bautista has been getting more and more looked at by Hollywood since his role in Guardian of Galaxy. It not always easy to prove you have what it take to the big wigs on the west coasts but he seems to have done just that. Recently, Chance the Rapper recently posted on Twitter wondering how Bautista is able to act so well. It was James Gunn who came in and explain the actor’s process.
“Bc @DaveBautista takes the craft seriously. He’s grounded in real emotion & not showy. The difference between Dave & many wrestler-actors is when you look in his eyes on set he’s in the place he’s supposed to be, not thinking about what he’s going to do next. One of the things I deal with a lot with actors who have been a part of other performing arts (ie wrestling or comedy) is to get them to STOP JUGGLING and JUST BE. It’s not your job to entertain us – it’s simply your job to be present to the moment in front of you and to treat it honestly. I never really had to teach that to @DaveBautista. His rawness set him apart from the first moment I met him. It was merely a matter of creating a space where he could come and share himself with all of us.”
Obviously, Gunn and Bautista work well together and have a lot of respect for each other. This should hopefully make working together on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 an easy affair. The third and possibly final film is written and directed by James Gunn. Filming is set to begin sometime in 2021 with a targeted release date for 2023.
h/t: Movieweb
Mamma, Mimi, Michele, call out any one of those names and I will answer. There are several hats on my shelf. My passions are photography, being outside, movies, tv, pop culture and anything haunted or spooky. People are my other interest, I love meeting new people and socializing. When I lived in Savannah GA I worked as a tour guide both haunted and historical tours. I met people from all over the world, that was the best part of the job. All of this I can write about too, that’s the beauty of being a writer.