To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Not now
OK
Advert
Advert
Advert

Dave Bautista is quitting Marvel and says leaving the role is a 'relief'

Claire Reid

Published 
| Last updated 

Dave Bautista is quitting Marvel and says leaving the role is a 'relief'

Featured Image Credit: Gary Mitchell, GMP Media / Maximum Film / Alamy Stock Photo

Dave Bautista has said he’s ‘relieved’ to be leaving behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe as his character Drax bows out in Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol 3 later this year.

The wrestler turned actor most recently appeared on our screens in Netflix’s Glass Onion, for which he received broad praise, and is set to star in M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin, which is released next month.

Loading…

Advert

But Bautista is probably best for his role as Drax, a character he played for almost a decade - appearing for the first time in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy.

Now he’s set to say goodbye to Drax for good, Bautista has admitted to GQ that he’s quite happy to do so as he hopes to land some meatier, more dramatic roles.

He 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.”

Advert
Drax will make his final appearance on the MCU later this year. Credit: Disney/MCU
Drax will make his final appearance on the MCU later this year. Credit: Disney/MCU

Bautista has previously said he believed Marvel could have developed the character of Drax more and accused them of ‘dropping the ball’.

Speaking to Colider last year, he explained: “I really wished they would have invested more in Drax, personally. Because 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.”

Dave Bautista said he feels ‘relief’ at leaving Drax behind. Credit: REUTERS / Alamy Stock Photo
Dave Bautista said he feels ‘relief’ at leaving Drax behind. Credit: REUTERS / Alamy Stock Photo
Advert

Announcing his character’s end back in May, Bautista posted on Instagram to say: “Haven’t found the words yet. It ended so suddenly and I was on to my next film before I could process it all. End of a journey that changed my life.”

However, he appears to be keen on seeking out juicer and heavier roles for himself, explaining to GQ that he didn’t ‘give a f**k’ about being a big movie star or ‘living a glamorous life’ but that he’d love to become a ‘better actor’ and earn the respect of his peers.

You can check out Drax’s final appearance in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 in May and if you can’t wait that long to see Bautista in action, he’ll be on the big screen from February 3 in Knock at the Cabin.

Topics: Film & TV, Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Dave Bautista, Film and TV

Claire Reid
More like this
Advert
Advert
Advert

Chosen for YouChosen for You

News

A man spent 25 years in the desert carving out sandstone caves and it's hard to believe what's inside

14 hours ago

Most Read StoriesMost Read

14-foot alligator caught carrying lifeless human body down canal in Florida

20 hours ago