Dave Bautista is no stranger to blockbuster franchises, and the Guardians of the Galaxy star has his sights set on another universe to conquer with his charisma. “I do love working with James [Gunn], and I’ve been very vocal about wanting to work with him at DC,” Bautista tells MovieWeb. “If they find a character that makes sense for me, then I’d totally be open to it.”
The most recent project on Bautista’s busy slate is In the Lost Lands, an adaptation of a short story by Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin. Bautista plays Boyce, a character that combines aspects of a cowboy and a monster-hunter in a post-apocalyptic dark fantasy universe. Mixing dark magic, fearsome monsters, and two action icons creates the potential for something truly special.
Bautista’s portrayal of Drax arguably stole the show several times in the star-studded MCU entries, largely due to his collaboration with James Gunn. It’s easy to envision Bautista fitting into the reimagined DC universe, which kicks off this year with Superman. He continues to express his desire to reunite with Gunn, stating, “I’ve reached out on several occasions just to voice my interest. And it’s just one of those things; it was the same with Marvel. They kind of have their slate. They know the direction they’re going in.” Bautista believes that from watching the developments at DC, the studio is rebuilding its entire brand and starting afresh with a young cast to ensure they have a clear path ahead.
Dave Bautista has a clear idea of how he’d like to enter the DC universe, and considering his busy schedule, he wants that entrance to make a strong impact. “I don’t know what character I would fit in [as],” says Bautista. “I’d rather not just take a supporting role in a DC film that was kind of dropped in, maybe not make it through the film. I’d rather hold off and just be in a bigger role, something that would make more of an impact in that universe, because I do love it.”
With countless DC characters available for exploration on the big screen, and given the indications from recent Superman trailers, it seems that James Gunn and his team plan to showcase many of them. The question remains: where does Bautista fit into this evolving landscape? While the answer is uncertain, his interest and enthusiasm are unmistakably clear.
