It seems a major fight is brewing in the upcoming Highlander reboot. Even with most of the film still shrouded in secrecy, this particular clash is already doing a lot of heavy lifting for fans’ expectations. A Marvel star and a Gladiator alum are about to go head-to-head in one intense scene; I cannot wait to lay my eyes on it.

The Gladiator half of the equation comes from Djimon Hounsou, who recently shed a bit of light on his role as OG returning character Sunda Kastagir in the film. Speaking with Collider, Hounsou revealed that while he’s part of the story’s larger machinery, he didn’t get nearly as much hands-on action as some might expect, even with a key fight lined up, facing off against a Marvel heavyweight. He explained:

You had me at “battle with Dave Bautista.” That alone is enough to grab my attention. Fans have been waiting for the Highlander reboot for some time, but Bautista stepping into the role of the Kurgan, a character made iconic by Clancy Brown in the original, will make the wait all worthwhile. His casting points to a villain driven by raw force but, with the added weight of the Guardians of the Galaxy stars’ on-screen presence.

Djimon Hounsou, meanwhile, tends to operate with a quieter, more deliberate intensity. Not a traditional movie crossover fight, those two energies together, and it has the makings of a fight that could genuinely stick with audiences long after the credits roll.

Helming the upcoming flick is director Chad Stahelski. His approach to fights, which he helped revolutionize for a new generation with his work on the John Wick franchise, tends to favor clarity and impact over chaos, turning fights into sequences that feel almost architectural in their design. Every ingredient in the rebooted Highlander flick has me certain we are witnessing a bit of alchemy destined to bring us one of the best fight scenes of all time.

Even if Hounsou’s role doesn’t involve extended combat, the idea of Stahelski staging a confrontation between him and Bautista suggests a scene that could stand out regardless of length. We could seriously have a banger of a battle on our hands here.

The reboot itself continues to assemble a notable ensemble. Henry Cavill steps into the lead role of Connor MacLeod, with Russell Crowe, another Marvel alum, Karen Gillan as MacLeod’s human wife, and others filling out a cast that blends blockbuster familiarity with a ton of dramatic range.

Hounsou also talked up the film's look, especially the set design, which he described as striking. That’s the part that has me hyped. If the team is putting that much care into the world itself, this could end up feeling bigger than just a string of fights. Highlander has always worked best when it leans into its weird, myth-heavy, slightly unhinged energy. If you’ve never seen the original, it’s absolutely worth your time. Just be prepared to mutter “what the heck did I just watch” at least once. That’s part of the charm. It’s not just about the fights, even if the fights are doing plenty of work.

That said, let’s not pretend the action isn’t a huge draw. That, and the music. If there isn’t a well-placed Queen’s Who Wants to Live Forever needle drop or Princes of the Universe nod somewhere in this thing, I’m going to have questions. A showdown between a Marvel star and a Gladiator standout is great, sure, but if there’s no Queen, I walk out. I’m mostly joking. Mostly.

Unfortunately for us fans, we won't get to see Bautista and Hounsou go head-to-head on the 2026 movie schedule. We are going to have to wait until at least 2027, or possibly 2028, for that. But, in the meantime, you can revisit the original film, streaming on Peacock with a subscription.

Karen Gillan has just wrapped work on the newest entry in the Jumanji franchise, but there’s no rest for the wicked, and the actress is already jumping into her next project. She’s set to play the wife of Henry Cavill’s immortal hero in the remake of Highlander, and it appears that this morning she sat down over breakfast to go over the script.

Gillan posted an image on Instagram in which the two major stars were a bag of Scottish oats and a very nice, leather-bound copy of what is surely the Highlander script. It’s unclear from the image if she is actually on set right now, but she is surely headed in that direction.

Karen Gillan has been very excited to appear in the new Highlander movie, directed by John Wick’s Chad Stahelski. She is actually from the highlands of Scotland, making her the absolute right woman for the job.

We’ve already seen images of Henry Cavill in a modern-day setting as lead character Conor Macloud. Like the original Highlander, we know the new movie will take place both in the modern day and in the past. It appears the production is getting ready to film the sequences set in 1400s Scotland, where Gillan’s character will be prominent.

The original Highlander sees Conor MacLeod marry a girl named Heather after he is exiled from his clan for witchcraft following the discovery of his immortality. Heather is ultimately killed by the Kurgan, the movie’s villain, who will be played by Dave Bautista in the remake.

It’s unclear what deviations from the original the new Highlander may make. One that appears likely is an expanded role for Heather. She wasn’t a major character in the original film, only appearing in a couple of scenes. The flashbacks time-jumped over their meeting and falling in love. Heather mostly existed to be killed off.

It seems unlikely that anybody would hire Karen Gillan to play a role as small as the one in the original movie, which indicates the part will be a bit more substantial this time around. That could simply mean more screen time for Heather, or it could mean a more significant performance from her in the few scenes she has. It could also be some combination of the two.

Whatever the plan, as a serious fan of Highlander who always felt the franchise never really lived up to its potential, I can’t wait to see what happens with it. It seems clear that the plan, assuming the movie is successful, is a larger Highlander franchise. And if things change enough for Karen Gillan’s character, the possibility of seeing more of her isn’t out of the question.

Buddy cop movies are a tried and true genre, and folks with an Amazon Prime subscription were recently treated to another entry: Ángel Manuel Soto's The Wrecking Crew. Critical response praised Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista's chemistry, as well as the epic (and bloody) violence of the R-rated movie. While I enjoyed the movie as a whole, I was shocked by just how many fat jokes were included throughout its 122-minute runtime.

While CinemaBlend's The Wrecking Crew review criticized the movie for being formulaic, I enjoyed watching all the pulse-pounding action play out from the comfort of my home. Jason Momoa is as charismatic as ever, and it was fun to watch him literally throwing his enemies around. I just wish his character, Jonny Hale, didn't make so many fatphobic jokes.

The Sheer Number Of Fat Jokes In The Wrecking Crew Was Baffling

When we meet Jonny and James Hale in The Wrecking Crew they're battling some demons. Momoa's character in particular, who is shown to be insensitive enough for his girlfriend, Valentina (Morena Baccarin), to leave him. I mean, he forgot both her birthday and the fact that she speaks Portuguese. So, when the hulking police officer makes a fat joke at the expense of one of Mr. K's goons, it at least felt character-driven. Jonny is a scoundrel, so it makes sense that he might not be sensitive in regards to people's physical appearance.

The problem is that Momoa's character keeps making fat jokes throughout the entire movie. I counted four when streaming the movie on Amazon, but it's possible that there were more, or that some ended up on the cutting room floor. I am baffled that writer Jonathan Tropper and director Ángel Manuel Soto would purposefully chose to make so many of these types of jokes.

You can call me woke all you want, but it's 2026 and we now understand the harm of making fat jokes both in life, and especially in film and TV productions. Representation matters, and I can't imagine how many people were offended by the constant supply of fatphobic jokes that made it into the final cut of The Wrecking Crew.

Like I said, if Jonny just made that one joke about Mr. K's henchman I probably wouldn't have batted an eye. But the fact that the movie included at least four different fat jokes made me feel icky. I just think that we've learned enough to not have to make these type of jokes about people's appearances. And, if they are used, they should be done sparingly, and better be funny enough to at least make me laugh. With this film seemingly set up for a sequel, I'm hoping this doesn't continue with future installments.

The Wrecking Crew is streaming now on Amazon as part of the 2026 movie schedule. And if you haven't seen it, buckle up for the surprising amount of times that Momoa calls people fat.

Defying astronomy, Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa are two stars that have been orbiting one another for years. Over a decade ago, the former took the role of Drax The Destroyer in Guardians of The Galaxy after the latter turned down the chance to audition. Both are featured in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune adaptation, but they never get the opportunity to share a scene. The movie gods seemingly wanted their paths to cross, but I suppose the timing up until now wasn’t right.

Beyond the fact that both men are muscle-bound, well-respected and talented entertainers, they make a natural pair thanks to their respective energies. Bautista is the serious one (with a knack for being so serious that it turns around and becomes comedic), and Momoa offers chaos and dark unpredictability with a wide smile and an outstretched hand making devil horns. They make a perfect contrasting pair – which was has a potency so obvious that the GOTG star himself pitched the idea of a “Lethal Weapon type buddy cop movie” on social media back in 2021.

The end result of that ambition-driven post is Ángel Manuel Soto’s The Wrecking Crew, which is a true mixed back as far as the final product is concerned. Its success is driven by exactly what was predicted at the outset of the project, which is to say that the two stars mesh incredibly well on screen, and the story sets them up with a dynamic into which they viciously sink their teeth. The downside is that screenwriter Jonathan Tropper’s script is nothing more than a collection of dull-as-dirt cliches, resulting in a “mystery” that is a total snore, and the direction is sprinkled with head-scratching details and an immature sense of humor that was far more tolerable in Soto’s PG-13 blockbuster Blue Beetle than in this R-rated adventure.

Bautista and Momoa star as James and Jonny Hale: two estranged half-brothers who reunite in Hawaii following the news that their father Walter (Brian L. Keaulana) has been killed. The death is said to be the result of a hit and run, but Jonny, a tribal police officer in Oklahoma on suspension, is compelled to investigate after a crew of gangsters try to assassinate him in his home, and James, a US Navy Seal, stirs up trouble investigating the van that killed his dad. Their searches collide in Walter’s private investigator office where they meet Pika (Jacob Batalon), his tech-savvy assistant.

From there, the movie unfolds as a checklist of buddy movie tropes in both the search for answers and the hurdles encountered along the way – including a shady land development deal, off-shore bank accounts, an egotistical millionaire (Claes Bang), a no-nonsense Detective Sergeant (Stephen Root), kidnappings of loved ones, and more. There isn’t a single drop of originality to be found in the far-too-long 124 minute runtime.

Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa both do what they do best, but you wish they had better material work with.

Both stars have proven that they are capable of much better performances in much better movies, but they skate by in this one while wholly relying on the base level charms that each has used to become a household name. For example, there is latitude for the movie to get more into James’ military work and experience, with the film actually teasing his special skills in his introduction as he drills soldiers in underwater exercises, but him being a US Navy Seal is really just a means of A) seeing him look sharp in uniform, B) giving him an air of authority, and C) setting up that he knows his way around a gun/how to kick ass. Bautista has a history of really pushing himself as a performer, but here, the gig is coasting on a stern attitude that occasionally bubbles over into rage, and he gets the job done.

As the wild card to Bautista’s straight man, Momoa has the easier gig in The Wrecking Crew, as his job is to be as rambunctious and funny as possible. It’s not quite the Joker-eque show that the star puts on as the big bad in Fast X, but it’s consistently fun to see him arrive at moments of peril and mortal danger with a wicked grin, and he’s clearly having a blast being a wiseass who takes every opportunity to rebel against anyone and everyone.

Major script issues and questionably directorial questions don’t do any favors for the lame plotting.

The film needs its star power, as it needs to do a lot of heavy lifting for a lackluster script and underwhelming direction. For example, Momoa’s Jonny makes for a fun on-screen hang, but the character would be leagues better if he were equipped with legitimate wit and sass; the film’s idea of sharp dialogue is the Oklahoma cop making fat jokes and expressing concerns about “gaslighting” and “being triggered.” It strives to be Shane Black-esque, but it falls well short of that goal.

It’s hard to even deploy the standard “at least the action scenes were cool,” as sequences frequently have strange issues that are so blatant that they take you totally out of the moment: I have never seen a movie render semi-automatic gunfire to be so pitiful, as their on-screen effect can be described as "occasional spark generators.” One sequence with Dave Bautista in the third act is nothing more than a shameless ripoff of the iconic hallway sequence in Park Chan-wook’s Oldboy, and there is a highway chase that is so badly greenscreened that it practically looks set in doors. It earns some points back for its moments of brutality (the horror fan in me loves a kitchen battle that sees Jonny run a cheese grater down a guy’s arm), but problems tend to outshine highlights.

It would be a lie to say that I had great expectations for The Wrecking Crew going in, but I did at least hope that it would be a dumb action movie elevated by the smart sensibilities of its stars, who have shown integrity in the past with their project choices. In the wake of the end credits, I’m left with a feeling of mild disappointment, but I have maintained appreciation for what Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa can do. Unfortunately, that makes the new movie hard to recommend, as you can get that feeling from a lot of other better films and television shows the two actors have made.

Dave Bautista is not the proverbial spring chicken he once was when he was fighting in the WWF/WWE at the turn of the century – but age has really done nothing to alter his reputation as a powerhouse. He was 49 when audiences first saw him as the extraterrestrial beast known as Drax The Destroyer in Guardians of the Galaxy, and he has spent his 50s continuing to be a standout big screen heavy, from his classic henchman role in Spectre to the sadistic Glossu Rabban in the Dune movies. His size and strength has been a big part of his career, and Jason Momoa got a full dose of it in the making of The Wrecking Crew.

The two actors play half-siblings on the hunt for their father’s killer in the new movie (which will be available to Prime Video subscribers starting this Friday), but there’s a limit to the brotherly love in their relationship, and Momoa got a first hand taste of just how strong Bautista is. In an interview with Today, the Aquaman actor talked about shooting a fight sequence with his co-star, and while the action is technically fake, that doesn’t mean that the 46-year-old performer didn’t still feel some pain. Said Momoa,

It goes without saying that Jason Momoa isn’t exactly what anyone would call a skinny weakling, but that didn’t stop him from dropping a panicked F-bomb as he recognized the potential danger of Dave Bautista accidentally landing one of his fake punches. He continued,

Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa have a shared credit on their resume thanks to both being a part of the cast of Dune, but they don’t actually have any scenes together in the blockbuster – which makes their collaboration on The Wrecking Crew that much more interesting. Movie history first connected the two stars when Bautista took the role of Drax after Momoa declined an invitation to audition, but the new 2026 film first came together because the former pitched a buddy movie idea to the universe on social media.

Nearly five years have gone by since that original post, but the movie went into production back in October 2024, and now it’s just days away from its streaming premiere. Directed by Ángel Manuel Soto, The Wrecking Crew co-stars and co-starring Claes Bang, Temuera Morrison, Jacob Batalon, Morena Baccarin and Stephen Root and will be available to watch on Prime video on January 30.

The first month of 2026 comes to an end this week, and it’s been a month of great streaming movies and an even better month for great streaming TV. Still, some top streamers have been holding onto the best for last, as two highly anticipated series and more get underway this week. Here’s what to look forward to steaming this week.

Wonder Man - January 27 (Disney+)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is already set to have a big year with Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday, but it will get off to a much smaller start, if you have a Disney+ subscription, with Wonder Man. If nothing else, the show should be entertaining for the return of Ben Kingsley’s Trevor Slattery, but the show might also be important to the larger franchise. We shall see.

School Spirits, Season 3 - January 28 (Paramount+)

The third season of School Spirits may receive something of a boost, considering that Milo Manheim was recently tapped to play Flynn Rider in Disney’s live-action Tangled. If you haven’t watched until now, your Paramount+ subscription will get you the first two seasons of the afterlife mystery series to catch up on before Season 3 arrives this week.

The Wrecking Crew - January 28 (Prime Video)

It seems terribly wrong that a buddy cop movie with Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa is a thing we’re somehow only getting now. The pair play brothers who are both cops, one by the book, the other not so much. It feels like the setup for a perfectly enjoyable action comedy at the very least and perhaps something truly great. If nothing else, it’s a good reason to have a Prime Video subscription.

Shrinking, Season 3 - January 28 (Apple TV)

Shrinking has always been one of the best reasons to have an Apple TV subscription, but Season 3 has a really big reason to watch, as it will see the return of Michael J. Fox to television. Fox, alongside the likes of Jason Segel and Harrison Ford, makes this a must-watch show.

Bridgerton, Season 4 Part 1 - January 29 (Netflix)

One of the best reasons to keep your Netflix subscription finally returns this week when the new season of Bridgerton debuts. Romance fans will likely be glued to their screens as they binge through the first part of the brand new season, which will focus on Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) and his quest for a good match. The rest of the season drops at the end of February.

If I Had Legs I’d Kick You - January 30 (HBO Max)

It’s the perfect week for indie darling If I Had Legs I’d Kick You to become available with an HBO Max subscription, considering that star Rose Byrne just secured a Best Actress nomination at this year's Oscars. If you missed the movie in theaters, now is the perfect time to check it out.

February has some incredible content in store for us. Next month, Disney+ will bring us the return of The Muppet Show, while Hulu brings us the long-awaited return of Scrubs, and that’s just the beginning.

There’s something great about a buddy cop movie, with the best ones spicing up the action with humor and tension between its leads. That’s what Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista hope to do in The Wrecking Crew, which is set to hit the 2026 movie release calendar on January 28. Critics were able to screen the upcoming action flick, and they’re here to give us some insight into what should be a pretty fun couple of hours.

Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa have come together to play estranged half-brothers James and Jonny Hale, respectively. One is a loose cannon, the other a disciplined Navy SEAL, but they must work together to unravel the mystery behind their father’s murder. Jamie Parker of CBR rates the movie a 7 out of 10, saying it thrives on the chemistry between its leads. The critic hopes this won’t become one of the great buddy cop movies that doesn’t get a sequel, writing:

ScreenRant’s Greg Hermanns also gives the movie 7 out of 10, celebrating the on-screen pairing of Bautista and Momoa. The actors are really what keeps the movie afloat, Hermanns says, with a fairly unoriginal plot and less character development than a two-hour movie should have. The review concludes:

Pete Hammond of Deadline says The Wrecking Crew’s “battle of the brawn” — Jason Momoa definitely hit the gym to get ready for Dave Bautista — might have been better served on the big screen than streaming with a Prime Video subscription to better show off its bloody blows and beautiful Hawaiian setting. Hammond writes:

However, Giovanni Lago of Next Best Picture says the director isn’t successful in balancing the comedic action with the family drama, leaving little for audiences to enjoy. This review of The Wrecking Crew rates the movie 4 out of 10, with Lago writing:

Jacob Oller of Paste also finds a tonal imbalance, saying the movie doesn’t lean into the dumb humor enough to make it feel like everyone was at least having fun while making this mess. Oller gives the movie a D+ and says:

Despite widely varying scores, it seems the critics agree that uniting Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista on-screen was a good idea, even if the premise and script leave something to be desired. The good news is that if you want to check out this buddy action flick, you don’t have far to go. The Wrecking Crew will be available to stream on Amazon’s Prime Video starting Wednesday, January 28.

James Gunn has a pretty important job as the head of creative development for DC Films. However, he also has a second job debunking all the rumors that get started surrounding his films. Gunn clearly doesn’t like it when wild rumors that are untrue start to gain traction, and the latest making the rounds for his Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow has him particularly annoyed.

The major casting rumor surrounding upcoming DC movies right now is who will play the follow-up's villain, with the prevailing theory being that classic Superman baddie Brainiac will fill that role. In fact, a new rumor claimed Gunn is looking at his former Guardians of the Galaxy buddy Dave Bautista for the part, calling him the “top choice.” Not so fast, though. Gunn took on the rumor from all sides on Threads, saying:

James Gunn doesn’t state outright that Brainiac isn’t the character in question, leaving that door open. However, he shuts down the idea of Dave Bautista playing that part. He clearly states there have been no discussions about the former Drax playing any role in Man of Tomorrow and indicates that most, if not all, of the other rumors are also untrue.

Bsautista isn’t the first name rumored for the role of Brainiac. It’s also been claimed that there was a short list for the part that included the likes of Matt Smith and Sam Rockwell. Gunn has not addressed that rumor directly, so it’s possible that it’s true, and he simply hasn’t seen it, but what’s more likely is that Gunn is including that list among those that he says have not auditioned or been discussed "at all.”

To be fair, Dave Bautista wouldn’t be a terrible choice to play Brainiac, or, honestly, any other Superman antagonist. Even Gunn seems to acknowledge that, as rumors go, this one makes more sense than some, but says he’s more irritated by it because of his existing relationship with Dave Bautista. Gunn continued…

The odds of seeing Dave Bautista in the DCU at some point are pretty good. The two clearly like working together. And Bautista as Brainiac wouldn’t be a terrible piece of casting. However, anybody excited by it should probably temper their expectations. While seeing somebody in that role still seems likely, the actor who eventually gets it may be somebody who has not been mentioned yet.

Major spoilers for Wake Up Dead Man are ahead! Read with caution, and watch the latest Knives Out mystery with a Netflix subscription.

I get it, connecting the Knives Out movies to the Marvel Cinematic Universe's movies feels random and potentially illogical. However, now that we’re three mysteries deep with Benoit Blanc thanks to the release of Wake Up Dead Man on the 2025 movie schedule, a pattern has been created that makes this connection undeniable. So, without further ado, let's talk about the fan theory involving Rian Johnson’s beloved whodunnits and how the MCU plays into their outcomes.

Why Is There A Fan Theory That Mixes Knives Out With Marvel?

Alright, this all starts with the Knives Out cast, including Chris Evans. When that movie came out in 2019, he was the only actor in the ensemble connected to the MCU, and his character, Ransom, killed Christopher Plummer’s Harlan.

Now, cut to 2022. Glass Onion was released, and it featured notable Marvel movie stars Edward Norton, who was in The Incredible Hulk before Mark Ruffalo took over as Bruce Banner, and Dave Bautista, AKA Drax from Guardians of the Galaxy. Notably, the cast also included Kathryn Hahn, who was in WandaVision and Agatha All Along, and Jessica Henwick, who appeared in The Defenders, Luke Cage and Iron Fist. However, those are shows, and this pattern only pertains to actors who starred in MCU movies.

In Glass Onion, Edward Norton’s Miles ended up killing both Bautista’s Duke Cody and Janelle Monáe’s Andi.

So, this all created the theory – which An0nym355 summarized on Reddit – that if a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie actor is in a Knives Out mystery, they will be either the killer or a victim and never an innocent survivor or bystander. An important distinction to make here is that not every victim is an MCU star. Rather, every time a MCU performer has been in one of Rian Johnson’s films, they have either done the killing or been killed. Now, with the release of Wake Up Dead Man, there’s even more merit to this connection.

How Wake Up Dead Man Perfectly Plays Into This Theory

When Josh Brolin and Jeremy Renner were cast in Wake Up Dead Man, I was immediately thinking about this theory. However, I didn’t realize at the time that Glenn Close and Thomas Haden Church were also MCU movie alums.

That’s right, along with Brolin playing the big bad Thanos and Renner portraying Hawkeye for years, Glenn Close played Nova Prime in Guardians of the Galaxy, and Thomas Haden Church was Sandman in both Spider-Man 3 and the MCU’s Spider-Man: No Way Home.

I will note that they aren't the only actors in Wake Up Dead Man with Marvel connections; however, they are the only four MCU movie stars. Kerry Washington was in 2005’s Fantastic Four and 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of Silver Surfer. Also, Jeffrey Wright voices a character in the series What If…? Neither of their characters was involved in the crimes of Wake Up Dead Man. However, neither of them is an MCU movie actor, either. Washington’s Marvel movies aren’t technically in the MCU – even though Chris Evans’ Human Torch does appear in Deadpool and Wolverine. Meanwhile, Wright has only ever appeared in Marvel TV shows.

With all that being said, I thought this third Knives Out mystery would deviate from the potential pattern due to all these muddy Marvel waters. However, it did not at all; in fact, it made the theory even stronger.

In the whodunnit, the four actors with ties to MCU movies were involved in the crime. Both Josh Brolin’s Monsignor Wicks and Thomas Haden Chruch’s Samson Holt died. And the people responsible for those deaths wound up being Glenn Close’s Martha Delacroix and Jeremy Renner’s Dr. Nat Sharp.

So, in the most brilliant of ways, the well-reviewed Wake Up Dead Man played right into this fan-favorite Marvel theory while also making it more complicated and twisty. Therefore, if we ever get another Knives Out mystery, make sure you pay close attention to the cast and their connections to the MCU.

John Cena’s Peacemaker Season 2 is currently airing on the 2025 TV schedule –also available to stream with an HBO Max subscription–and he’s so perfectly cast in the role it's hard to imagine anyone else under the helmet. But, you may have heard, James Gunn recently revealed he originally wrote the role for another actor, his Guardians of the Galaxy collaborator Dave Bautista. Now, The Killer’s Game star explains why he’s not mad about not landing the role, despite a ‘bit of envy.’

The Last Showgirl co-star talked to ComicBook.com about his new project, but took the time to give Cena his flowers and explained why walking away worked out. In his words:

The wrestler-turned-action-star doubled down on the honesty and pangs of envy, but still couldn't see a world where he could do a better job. Bautista continued:

Gunn shared that he wrote Peacemaker with Dave Bautista in mind for The Suicide Squad in a recent episode of The Howard Stern Show. If schedules and money had lined up, the Parachute performer might’ve worn the chrome helmet through two seasons of Peacemaker, Superman, and even Man of Tomorrow. Instead, a clash with Army of the Dead, which offered him a starring role and more money, kept him out. But Cena stepped in, and the rest, as they say, is DCU history.

It’s a remarkably healthy take from a guy who’s made a point of chasing character-first roles. Bautista’s post-Drax era has been about stretching, not just flexing, as he’s taken on everything from Blade Runner 2049, Dune, and Knock at the Cabin. Owning the idea that someone else was simply “more right” for a role is the kind of grown-up career math you don’t always hear in upcoming superhero movie land.

And, honestly, I agree with the Afterburn actor. Cena’s Peacemaker balances idiotic bravado with a weirdly sincere, wounded core. That tightrope act is why the show hits. It has satire and heart. And as brilliant as the Knock at the Cabin lead has been in specific roles, like Drax, recognizing that he couldn’t have brought what Cena has to the part doesn’t diminish him as an actor in any way. Still, it highlights how much casting influences the final product. Frankly, had Bautista been Peacemaker, I doubt we would have even had a spin-off series, and the character would have remained dead as he seemed to be at the end of The Suicide Squad.

Does this close the door on The Army of the Dead actor in the DCU? Not necessarily. He’s floated Bane as a dream role before, though he’s joked the clock may be working against him. Either way, he’s doing just fine, stacking interesting parts and keeping his standards high. But hey, if something shows up in the new DC movie landscape that the star would be right for, I think he seems fairly game to join Gunn’s world.

Peacemaker Season 2 premiered on August 21, 2025, with new episodes releasing weekly on Thursdays. Next up for Dave Bautista is a romantic comedy, The Romantic. Paramount Pictures recently acquired the film and does not yet have an official release date, but I’m excited to see the former WWE star stretch his range.

James Gunn, like many directors, likes to work with his friends. We’ve seen actors like Nathan Fillion and Michael Rooker repeatedly show up in the writer and director’s work. Many of the actors who have worked with Gunn in the past have expressed interest in working with him again.

It turns out one Guardians of the Galaxy star could have done just that. James Gunn has revealed he had a specific actor in mind when he created Peacemaker for The Suicide Squad, and it wasn't John Cena, but another WWE megastar.

Dave Bautista Was Almost Peacemaker

Appearing on The Howard Stern Show, James Gunn confirmed that he actually wrote the role of Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad for his former Drax, Dave Bautista. However, with Bautista being a fairly hot commodity, in large part because of the Guardians films, the actor simply had to take a better offer on the table. Gunn said:

Bautista himself spoke about his decision back in 2021. He revealed that he’d been offered a role in The Suicide Squad, though he never mentioned what the role was. He ultimately decided to take Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead for Netflix over Gunn’s superhero movie. Bautista expressed an interest in that particular script and a desire to work with Snyder as the reasons for his choice, though the money probably didn’t hurt.

An Amy Schumer Comedy Led James Gunn To John Cena

And so, if one former professional wrestler turns down your action movie, I suppose it makes some sense to consider others. James Gunn mentions being a fan of Amy Schumer’s comedy Trainwreck, in which John Cena played a scene-stealing role. That was enough to get the two together, and the rest is history. Gunn continued:

The Peacemaker role has certainly turned out to be a success for Cena, leading to not just the movie role but two seasons of television (Season 2 is airing right now on the 2025 TV schedule for those with an HBO Max subscription). And Gunn and Cena clearly work well together, with Gunn calling Cena the best improv actor he's ever worked with.

It will apparently also lead to more, as Gunn says he and Cena will be working together again in the future. Nobody needs to worry too much about Dave Bautista, though; he seems to be getting the roles that he wants, including the rom-com that had long eluded him.

Dave Bautista has already contributed to the 2025 movies schedule by starring in Paul W.S. Anderson’s In the Lost Lands, and he’ll be back in November for Trap House. But looking further ahead into the future, the Dune and Guardians of the Galaxy star has various other projects lined up, and it looks like plans are in motion to add two more to the list. Today brings word that Bautista is not only in talks to play a key role in the Highlander reboot, but also come aboard for Road House 2.

As far as Highlander goes, Deadline is hearing that Bautista is being courted to play the Kurgan, the main antagonist who was brought to life by Clancy Brown in the 1986 original. This would actually make a full circle moment for the actor, as he’d previously been cast in the same role back in 2015, but that version of the reboot ultimately fell through. As for Road House 2, no details have been shared his role in the sequel to the Amazon Prime Video subscription-exclusive movie from last year, though it’s easy enough to envision him playing a villain there, too.

Assuming Dave Bautista works out a deal with Highlander, his version of the Kurgan will clash with Henry Cavill’s Conor McLeod, with Cavill having been officially attached since 2023. In June, Russell Crowe was revealed to be playing Ramirez in the new Highlander, and Industry actress Marisa Abela has also been cast in an undisclosed role. Chad Stahelski is directing the reboot, as well as creatively overseeing both the Highlander and John Wick franchises for Lionsgate.

With Road House 2, given Dave Bautista’s experience playing action-heavy roles, it’s hard to imagine that his character wouldn’t be throwing some punches and even a few kicks, whether they’re directed at Jake Gyllenhaal’s Dalton or an enemy they share. No other castings have been reported for that upcoming movie so far. Guy Ritchie was originally set to direct Road House 2, but he departed in July, and Nobody’s Ilya Naishuller has since been hired for helming duties.

As already mentioned, Highlander and Road House 2 are just a couple of the major movies that we can look forward to seeing Dave Bautista in. For the 2026 movies schedule, he’s voicing the yet-to-be-identified villain in The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender, which will be a theatrical release rather a Paramount+ subscription exclusive. He’ll also be in Afterburner, The Wrecking Crew and Alpha Gang, none of which have release dates yet.

For now, if you’re looking to enjoy Dave Bautista’s more recent movies, I recommend Dune: Part Two and The Last Showgirl, which can be respectively streamed with an HBO Max subscription and Hulu subscription.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains minor spoilers for the newly released The Naked Gun. If you have not yet seen the film, proceed at your own risk!

In the third act climax of The Naked Gun, the whole world has gone primal due to the activation of the nefarious P.L.O.T. Device. A chase between a cadre of motorcycles and an owl ends in front of a fountain, and a final showdown is set up between villain and hero: Danny Huston's Richard Cane and... Dave Bautista. For a brief scene, Liam Neeson is recast with the Dune star as Frank Drebin Jr., the latter reading a few dramatic lines before the former tags back in, and it's a wonderfully out of left field gag that got big reactions from the audience both times I've seen the movie.

As for how the cameo came together, CinemaBlend's Jeff McCobb got the answer to that particular inquiry when he recently interviewed director Akiva Schaffer and producer Erica Huggins during the virtual press day for The Naked Gun. As it turns out, it wasn't a case of hunting for the right fit and trying to find someone who would say yes; instead, having Dave Bautista appear was one of the first names considered, and he was the first person who said yes. Said Schaffer,

Following up, Erica Huggins explained that they didn't exactly have a lot of back-up ideas, and they quickly recognized him as a great fit for the part:

It is indeed quite awesome. In addition to having the great joke where Dave Bautista temporarily subs in as Frank Drebin, he is subsequently attacked by people influenced by the P.L.O.T. Device, and he comically screams out in pain, "I'm not even supposed to be in this movie!" Of course, he eventually survives and even makes peace with his attackers with Frank Drebin and Pamela Anderson's Beth Davenport flick the switch that makes everyone go from being "Calmed Up" to "Calmed Down."

It's another feather in the acting cap for Bautista, who has shown that he has surprising range as a performer. The Naked Gun is the latest title on the comedy side of his resume (other entries including his time as Drax in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies as well as his two-hander Stuber with Kumail Nanjiani), but he has also become a close collaborator with filmmaker Denis Villeneuve via the Dune movies and Blade Runner 2049. John Cena recently called Bautista the "GOAT of wrestlers-turned-actors," and the argument for his case is only getting stronger.

I can personally confirm that The Naked Gun is a delightful cinematic experience to have more than once in theaters, as it's not only amazing to bathe in the laughter of a full auditorium, but there are also so many jokes in the film that you are guaranteed to discover something you missed during your first watch. The comedy is now playing in cinemas everywhere, having landed in third place at the box office during its successful opening weekend.

The history of wrestlers turned actors is a touch spotty, as there is a sizable list of performers who weren't quite able to properly transfer their charisma in the ring to the big screen. That being said, there are some stars who have done it quite well. The most successful is Dwayne Johnson, who has the box office receipts to back up the superlative... but who is the greatest of all time a.k.a. the GOAT? That's a question up for debate, but for John Cena, the answer is Dave Bautista.

Cena himself has obviously carved out an excellent career for himself in Hollywood, but he played humble in a recent Complex video for the series GOAT Talk when it came time to naming the GOAT of wrestler-turned-actors. Paired with his Heads of State co-lead Idris Elba in the clip, the Peacemaker lead briefly considers giving the honor to "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (with a special name-drop of John Carpenter's They Live), but he ultimately gives the GOAT distinction to Bautista. Said Cena,

It's common for wrestlers to primarily work in action movies, as those are the films that can typically best make use of their muscles and physicality. Dave Bautista has done plenty of those, with credits like the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, Spectre, and Army Of The Dead on his resume, but part of what has made his acting career unique is his focus on working with some of the best and most notable filmmakers in the industry.

When John Cena speaks about Bautista's range, he's talking about his work with Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049 and the Dune movies), M. Night Shyamalan (Knock At The Cabin) and Rian Johnson (Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery).

As for Idris Elba? He opted to support the self-esteem of John Cena by calling him the greatest wrestler-turned-actor of all time – and it's work that the British star has witnessed first hand. They first had the chance to work together a few years ago making James Gunn's The Suicide Squad, and you can check out their latest collaboration now, as Heads Of State just premiered last week and is available to stream with an Amazon Prime subscription. Per CinemaBlend's Nick Venable and his four star review of the action film, it's a title that well-highlights Cena's comedy and ass-kicking skills.

It’s looking to be another action-packed year for Dave Bautista as we get ready to see him in upcoming 2025 movies like Afterburn and Trap House. But in even better news, it looks like the retired pro wrestler will finally get to live his dream of starring in a romantic comedy with a movie aptly titled The Romantic.

Dave Bautista Is Attached To Star In A Rom-Com That Sounds Amazing

The Guardians of the Galaxy actor has teamed with Paramount Pictures to make The Romantic, with Ryan Reynolds’ production company also involved and some rom-col alums behind the script. The Romantic is about a bestselling romance author named Francine London, who is actually a man who lives in the mountains named Ed Schwenke (Bautista).

While hiding behind his pen name has been enough for years, his identity has suddenly become a point of examination from the public. So Ed decides to hire what’s described as a “wildcard of a woman” to pose as Francine London as a “cynical female journalist” becomes a threat to his real identity being revealed. The journalist isn’t into the romance genre at all, perhaps making The Romantic an enemies-to-lovers scenario?

The story has been crafted by Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont, who previously have made other romantic comedies like Can’t Hardly Wait, Made Of Honor, and Leap Year. So, Bautista is in good hands! There’s no director or other leads involved yet, per the Deadline report, but how exciting is this?

What He Has Said About Wanting To Be In A Rom-Com

So, what’s Dave Bautista’s deal with romantic comedies? Even though he’s predominantly known as an action star, the actor has expressed that he actually wants to move away from action roles and be considered a “real and respected actor.” He’s been outspoken about his love for “small, contained indie dramas” and in a 2023 interview said this about his dream to be in a rom-com to Page Six:

Soon after the actor made his hopes known, writers and fans started rallying around him and The Mandalorian’s Katy O’Brian also shared her interest in co-starring with him. Bautista also said he received a lot of calls after he made his statements and is “making [his] way” to being in a “full-on rom-com,” making it clear he doesn’t mean an action romantic comedy.

With news of The Romantic, it sounds like the actor who has already shown off his range over the years will get to delve into the genre finally.

Superhero movies almost always have great action, which is a testament to the fight choreographers, stuntmen, and the actors playing the roles. Of course, two people pretending to beat the hell out of each other can sometimes get out of hand. People actually getting slapped, kicked or punched in the face can certainly happen, as it apparently did on the set of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Adam Warlock portrayer Will Poulter mentioned that he was a fan of Dave Bautista during his WWE days before the two ended up in a fight scene on the set of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Poulter has nothing but praise for Big Dave, especially for the fact that Bautista didn’t seem to mind when Pouler accidently punched him in the face. Poulter explained:

To be fair, as the best actor who was once a professional wrestler, Bautista is used to being punched in the face. Of course, that doesn’t mean you’d expect him to like it, especially when it was unexpected. It’s also possible that maybe Poulter didn’t hit him all that hard, but there was a telltale sign that Bautista took a decent shot: Adam Warlock’s gold paint on Bautista’s face. Poulter continued:

One can only imagine how Dave Bautista looked in his Drax makeup, with gold knuckle prints transferred over from Poulter’s gold makeup. It’s certainly enough of an indication that Bautista got punched. It was awfully nice of him not to say anything.

I had never thought of the complexities that come with doing these sorts of action scenes in makeup. The actors are often in the makeup chair for hours on end to fully apply makeup like what Bautista wore as Drax. It makes me wonder just how easy it would be to touch up the makeup once it transferred like that or if fixing the makeup became a multi-hour process.

Bautista had said the Drax makeup was his least favorite part of the job. Even getting the makeup off is tough. If this errant swing from Will Pouler led to Bautista spending a prolonged session in the makeup chair, that might have bothered him more than the punch.

Although 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy was by no means his first film credit, Dave Bautista made his breakthrough into Hollywood playing Drax the Destroyer in the 10th of the Marvel movies in order. Bautista went on to reprise the role six more times, with Drax’s story coming to a close in 2023 with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. However, Bautista hasn’t been shy voicing his dissatisfaction with how Drax was handled, and he recently shared what he wishes had been done differently with the character during his time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

While speaking with journalist Jake Hamilton about his new movie In the Lost Lands, which comes out next week on the 2025 release schedule, Bautista was asked which past movie of his he would find the most interesting to be told directly from the perspective of the character he played from his point of view. He selected Drax the Destroyer, saying:

Dave Bautista’s criticism of Drax’s narrative journey in the MCU stretches back to 2021, when he told a fan on social media that he was disappointed with how the character’s storyline with Thanos played out. Then in January 2023, Dave Bautista said it was a “relief” that his time as Drax was over, though he mainly attributed this to the grueling makeup process. By September 2024, Bautista said he didn’t miss playing Drax, although he did miss the “family environment” that he’d formed with director/writer James Gunn, Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Pom Klementieff, Karen Gillan and Sean Gunn.

It’s a shame that that playing Drax the Destroyer didn’t live up to Bautista’s expectations. Granted, there’s only so much time that can be spent in these movies on Drax alone since he’s part of an ensemble cast, but the actor is also welcome to his frustrations about Marvel Studios not wanting to explore the Guardian more in depth. I understand why he’d be down for the opportunity to tell Drax’s full story. I would have been interested to see that tackled as a Special Presentation to stream with a Disney+ subscription, just like The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.

While things didn’t work out with Drax in his mind, Dave Bautista did say earlier this month that he’d be open to playing a different role in the MCU, despite having bid an emotional goodbye to the franchise in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The actor has also expressed interest in re-teaming with James Gunn in the DC Universe, as he's now running DC Studios with producer Peter Safran. So if Bautista returns to the superhero genre, we’ll tell you about it.

As fans discuss Jason Momoa’s upcoming A Minecraft Movie, the actor himself is now working on another film. The production in question is The Wrecking Crew, which will see the Aquaman star sharing the screen with Dave Bautista. Pitched by Bautista several years ago, the movie was officially greenlit in 2023. Now, it’s finally filming, and Momoa seems excited to get to work with Bautista and co. On that note, the A-lister celebrated the start of shooting in a sweet way.

The 45-year-old actor’s joy was very much present via the Instagram post he recently shared. He marked day one of production on The Wrecking Crew by sharing video clips and photos. Within the carousel, one can see more than a few photos of the co-leading man hanging out with the crew, including director Ángel Manuel Soto, in some beautiful-looking landscapes. The Slumberland star also captured a scenic clip during “magic hour” and showed off a video of himself sporting some colorful hair accessories. Check out the post:

You’d be hard pressed to find a movie star that looks happier than Jason Momoa does in those photos. I’d imagine that it must be a pleasure to work with a group of people that you truly gel with. On that note, I’m surprised not to see the aforementioned Guardians of the Galaxy alum anywhere in these pics. It’s very possible, of course, that he just hasn’t arrived to set yet to film his material. When he finally gets on location, I’d like to think that the good times will really start rolling.

Even ahead of production, Jason Momoa seemed very excited about the production. Momoa has discussed how the film came to fruition, giving the Blade Runner 2049 star all the credit for that. The Sweet Girl star had also been keeping fans updated on his preparation for his latest blockbuster. In one fun post, he even quipped that he had to “get ready for Bautista!”

Dave Bautista initially took to X back in 2021 to pitch some kind of movie starring himself and the See star. The Knock at the Cabin star believed that a Lethal Weapon-like flick would be perfect for him and his latest co-star. Based on what we know now about the film, it’ll see the two stars playing half brothers – a straight-laced Navy SEAL and an unpredictable cop. The two protagonists ultimately have to put their differences aside and crack the mystery of their father’s murder. It’s a straightforward but fun premise that could be bolstered by the direction of Ángel Manuel Soto and the performances of his two leading men and the rest of the cast.

Speaking of the other stars, the two leads will be joined by some tried-and-true talents. Also part of the ensemble are Deadpool’s Morena Baccarin, Spider-Man alum and Star Wars icon Temuera Morrison. The Northman’s Claes Bang, The Expanse’s Frankie Adams and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil alum Miyavi are also among the featured players.

Now that filming is officially underway on Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista’s new movie, the notion of it finally reaching the big screen feels all the more real. Here’s hoping that production moves along as smoothly as possible. And let’s also hope that Momoa and co. share some sweet behind-the-scenes tidbits with us via social media throughout the duration of the shoot.

Those who need to keep themselves occupied in the meantime, can scan the 2024 movie schedule for plenty of other titles that will surely get your blood pumping.

The slate of upcoming DCU movies and TV shows took a surprising turn in the wake of HBO’s wak-ing excellent The Penguin arriving to follow the story threads started in Matt Reeves’ The Batman. It appears James Gunn & Co. are interested in giving more villains their time in the spotlight, as Bane is reportedly getting a team-up movie with fellow fan-favorite rogue Deathstroke. It’ll be the third live-action iteration of the hulking character overall, and I’ve got casting ideas.

The most iconic Bane portrayal thus far of any medium obviously comes from The Dark Knight Rises, with Tom Hardy gifting fans with a solid performance on top of his infamous voice. On the non-animated front, Hardy’s villain was followed by Shane West’s arc as Eduardo “Bane” Durrance in Gotham’s final season. But who will step up to take on the role in the still-developing new movie?

Dave Bautista

A name that has long been at the top of fan-casting lists for Bane, Dave Bautista was just as into the idea of playing the villain as fans were. But no other applicable projects were happening for him to take advantage, and Bautista has since changed his tune about it, now considering himself to be too old to take on what could amount to a multi-film commitment.

But if it’s just a one-time outing, I don’t think Bautista could ever really age out of being a top-tier option. (Assuming his issue is with fan perception and not his own physical health.) Not only is he used to both stuntwork and dramatic acting, but he’s got a tight relationship with James Gunn from Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy movies. No wrong moves here.

Laz Alonso

Considering Bane’s origin story stems from the Caribbean islands, if not legitimate ones, it would be awesome for the DCU movie to have that in mind when doing the casting. Which is part of why I think The Boys’ Laz Alonso, whose parents are Cuban immigrants, could serve up quite a solid and intimidating Bane performance.

Another big part of that thinking, of course, is that he’s already such a badass as The Boys protagonist Mothers Milk, and I always enjoy seeing actors take on characters at the opposite ends of the moral spectrum. I doubt he’d have to worry about any Batman villains attacking him with a prosthetic penis, in any case.

Édgar Ramírez

A Venezuelan actor who fluently speaks five different languages, Édgar Ramírez has proven himself to be an excellent addition to any cast or project, and more often than not has opted for above-average productions. (The less remembered about 2015’s Point Break, the better.)

While he hasn’t yet factored into any superhero projects, he’s familiar with blockbuster-scale efforts (Bright, Jungle Cruise), villainous roles (The Bourne Ultimatum, Wrath of the Titans) and genuine drama (Hands of Stone, Carlos). So I’m sure it wouldn’t be outside of his range to punch Nightwing in the face, for instance.

Aldis Hodge

With a career that started on Sesame Street, actor Aldis Hodge already knows his way around both live-action and animated DC projects. He starred as Hawkman alongside Dwayne Johnson in Black Adam and voiced John Stewart’s Green Lantern in two different animated DCEU movies. So it might be the…bane…of his existence for someone to come knocking to ask him to play yet another DC role.

However, one’s talent shouldn’t be overlooked for a new role just because that person was also good enough to land semi-related parts in the past as well. Plus, his father Aldis Basil Hodge and that side of the family hail from St.Thomas in the Virgin Islands, so there are ties to that side of Bane’s life.

Brian Cage

Sometimes it's not necessarily about having the most seasoned dramatic actor in a role, but about having the most physically intimidating specimen imaginable. Which is where professional wrestler Brian Cage enters the arena and subsequently smashes everything to smithereens.

Currently signed to AEW, Cage is a hulking behemoth no matter what he's wearing at any given moment. But while there are many wrestlers that could fit the Batman villain bill just based on size alone, Cage has actually wrestled in the ring multiple times dressed as Bane (once against a Jason Voorhees), and it's applicably perfect, even if he didn't break any of his opponents' backs.

Bad Bunny

If the casting call is seeking out "Caribbean performer who is young, internationally beloved, and previously signed on to be part of a superhero project that isn't happening anymore," then there's no better choice than Bad Bunny. And I know that's not what the casting call would say, but this suggestion is still relevant.

The Puerto Rican musician has sold millions of records, co-starred in Bullet Train, and even put his body on the line for WWE's 2022 Royal Rumble and 2023 Backlash ahead of what was supposed to be his Spidey-verse debut in El Muerto, before that project was yanked from the 2024 film schedule. So if he's already prone to getting jacked, he might as well do it to play Bane, right?

Michael Irby

To be sure, MIchael Irby is the kind of actor who isn’t necessarily always known for playing outsized threats who strike fear in those who stand before him. (Certainly not on Lopez vs. Lopez.) Even as Barry’s former mob boss Cristobal, he’s more calm and professional than frightening.

But his work across five seasons of Mayans M.C. made me want to see him taking on more roles in that (bulging bicep) vein where he gets to show off just how scary he can be when angry. Even if Bane’s mask would cover up the actor’s stellar mustache, his eyes would be more than enough to drive home how much he’d like to bend Batman over his knee. And bonus points if the DCU version of Bane loves motorcycles.

James Adomian

For those unaware, stand-up comedian and voice-acting extraordinaire James Adomian is the genius who legitimately turned Bane into one of TV's funniest animated characters via Max's Harley Quinn and its A+ spinoff Kite-Man: Hell Yeah! Even though the voice is basically just a fun parody of Tom Hardy's TDKR portrayal, it's still a perfect fit.

Do I think that Adomian is the perfect actor to play the role from a physical standpoint? Probably not, though I think a costume could sell that easily enough. But even if nobody wanted the comic to take handle the on-camera role, he could still provide the character's voice with someone else (like Brian Cage) serving as the hulking villain's body. Whic his howTwisted Metal handled Sweet Tooth's performance, splitting it between the on-set Samoa Joe and the in-the-vocal-booth Will Arnett.

Even if none of these castings end up happening, I'm still very hopeful that James Gunn and Peter Safran are set to deliver the goods when the DCU officially kicks off with Gunn's Superman, the animated Creature Commandos and other Chapter 1 projects.

Dave Bautista is one in a long line of former professional wrestlers who have become actors. Certainly, his time as a professional wrestler was important to his future as an actor, but he says that words of wisdom from Triple H still carry him through his current career.

When Dave Bautista, known simply as Batista in WWE, first arrived, he was quickly paired up with Triple H, the man who would go on to become the Chief Creative Officer of WWE. Both on-screen and off, Triple H was a mentor to Bautista, part of the successful Evolution faction. Speaking with The School of Hard Knockz on Instagram, Bautsita says Triple H gave him two pieces of advice that are some of the best he’s ever received. He said…

Professional wrestling is very much a hierarchical industry, and giving respect to the veterans is usually a pretty big deal, so it makes sense that Bautista wanted to be careful when he first got there. He knew he was the new guy, and he wanted to make sure he stayed on the good side of the people who had earned their spot. Getting on the bad side of wrestlers can get one in a fair amount of trouble.

But Triple H, who by this point was one of those locker room veterans, instead told Bautista to worry more about himself than he did what others thought of him. Both pieces of advice ultimately boil down to the idea that while one should certainly take others into account, at the end of the day, you have to make the best decisions for your future.

For both Bautista and Triple H, the perspective appears to have worked. Both would be major stars in the world of professional wrestling. Triple H is now one of the major executives at WWE, while Bautista is one of the true success stories when it comes to wrestlers who have become actors.

And one can see just how seriously Bautista has taken his brand. While he has been the action hero that is the default role for people who came from wrestling, Bautista has branched out into dramatic roles in a way that stars like Dwayne Johnson and John Cena have not. Bautista wants to make a romcom.

And while John Cena and The Rock have continued to make regular WWE appearances, Bautista has thus far remained retired. These sorts of decisions help him stand out and build that brand.

Dave Bautista’s new project on the 2024 movie schedule, The Killer’s Game, has a lot in common with the John Wick movies. As our The Killer's Game review, pointed out, both films are about professional assassins who must fight off numerous other professional assassins who are trying to kill them. However, while there are significant similarities between the flicks, Dave Bautista says there was never an attempt to make the action in his movie like John Wick's, because nobody can compete with those.

Following the success of John Wick, we’ve seen more than a few films that were clearly inspired by the Keanu Reeves action franchise. It would be easy to see The Killer’s Game as an attempt to cash in on the same concept, but Dave Bautista tells the AV Club that the film made a concerted effort to be a little sillier with the action specifically because they didn’t want to try to outdo John Wick. He explained…

Similarities between these two action flicks extend beyond basic plot elements. Director J.J. Perry is a former stuntperson turned director, just like John Wick franchise director Chad Stahelski, and Perry even worked under Stahelski on the first two John Wick films. It’s not difficult to see why people would make the comparison. Even if the goal wasn’t to make a movie just like the iconic films starring Keanu Reeves, it was likely the success of that franchise that led to a project like The Killer’s Game being made in the first place.

John Wick's best action is certainly stylized, but it’s also very intense and taken seriously. The Killer’s Game, however, includes characters who are themselves more over the top, like assassins who are also dancers, and they bring that silliness to the fight scenes as well. Nothing is taken too seriously in the action, but for those who like action movies that have some fun, The Killer’s Game may be a welcome addition to the genre.

Of course, with the future of the John Wick franchise in question, there may no longer be a need for anybody to compete with it. The trailer for Ballerina, the John Wick spinoff just dropped, but after that, it’s unclear what’s next for the character or the world. While there has been talk that John Wick: Chapter 5 could happen, nothing has yet been confirmed.

Dave Bautista’s greatest movies show that he more than has the machismo to kick ass within the action genre. But, while the former wrestler has played tough guys for the past 15 years, it looks like he wants a change when it comes to the roles he's taken on. With that, the fan-favorite actor recently opened up about moving away from action movie roles. In the process, Bautista was even real about no longer being “the great, big, muscular guy” he once was.

The 55-year-old actor has played Drax the Destroyer in the Guardians of the Galaxy films, his near-silent role as Mr. Hinx in Spectre and the wild Glossu Rabban in the Dune films. And, with those roles alone, his physicality was on full display. It goes without saying that Dave Bautista has been successful in that particular lane. However, as he explained to EW, those types of films aren't going to be sustainable for him in the long run:

I can understand how anxiety comes into play. Acting is a profession that not every aspiring performer can achieve due to high competition and constant bouts of rejection no matter how talented they are. When someone's on a career high in any tough industry, they likely never want that moment to end on its own.

That aside, it's refreshing that Dave Bautista -- who recently lost 75 pounds after years of feeling "uncomfortably big" -- is realistic about the odds of him starring in blockbusters throughout his whole career. Sure, actors from the best action movies like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone and Jackie Chan are in the 60s-70s age range and still kicking ass on the big screen, but that's not for everyone. Plus, Bautista said he’s not even a fan of action films himself, which is all the more reason for him to branch out and try new endeavors.

Despite being in three major movies last year, Dave Bautista recently said he felt “unfulfilled” as an actor as he hasn’t explored every film genre outside of action. He's made it clear that he wants to challenge himself with new opportunities, and it seems many are in his corner. After the former Marvel actor said in 2023 that no one would cast him for a rom-com, many came to his defense. Actress Katy O'Brien even volunteered to co-star in a rom-com with him. Now, it would even seem that Bautista's rom-com dreams are coming true, as he's apparently been approached with potential starring vehicles.

The Blade Runner 2049 star's latest 2024 movie release is The Killer’s Game, which does feature its share of thrills. However, it also gives audiences a taste of the leading man's romantic side, as he has a love interest in the movie played by Sofia Boutella. In fact, Bautista described his new flick to EW as “a rom-com disguised as an action film” and took on the role specifically because he saw there was romance in the script.

If anything, I'm incredibly happy that Dave Bautista is being honest about his professional future and advocating for himself when it comes to roles. Some may be disappointed that he's looking to move away from action-oriented films. However, it'd be even more devastating if he were to be kept in that box and not allowed to branch out. Here's hoping he's able to do so as he desires moving forward. Also, check out The Killer's Game in theaters now.

Hollywood is such a wild place, because a big star can come from anywhere. Sometimes it’s via a traditional theatre route like Morgan Freeman. Sometimes you stumble upon it while trying to get extra points in a class, like Samuel L. Jackson. But, other times you transition into it after a successful WWE career, like Dave Bautista. No matter what, there are a few rules actors learn on the job. For Bautista, apparently, he was taught one of said key lessons from Jackson while filming the upcoming movie Afterburn.

Dave Bautista recently starred in one of the latest projects on the 2024 movie schedule, The Killer’s Game, which had him teaming up with director J.J. Perry. Coming up next, Bautista and Perry are working together again on Afterburn, which is a post-apocalyptic action flick that is also one of Samuel L. Jackson’s upcoming movies. When the Guardians of the Galaxy actor recently spoke about his career and working with Jackson, he said this:

The AV Club interviewer was understandably taken aback by Bautista’s claims that he had just learned how to hit his mark. He explained in greater detail by saying this:

If you’re going to learn a major rule of acting, why not learn from one of the best? Samuel L. Jackson has over 200 credits to his name, and that includes some of the best movies of the '90s, '00s and '10s as well as some of the biggest box office hits. Plus, Jackson has played some of the coolest characters around. So, he’s been up and around the block when it comes to hitting one's mark and doing it well many, many times. And this story reiterates his professionalism and sharpness on sets.

Per Bautista’s comments, he’s been committed to being an actor since back in 2010 when he starred in his first film, Wrong Side Of Town. It would take a few years, but he really became a big name in Hollywood when he landed a role in the Guardians of the Galaxy cast as Drax the Destroyer. Since then, he’s been in all sorts of high-profile movies, from the James Bond installment Spectre to Blade Runner 2049 to Dune.

It is kind of wild to think that after all the work he’s done as an actor, it was only recently that he learned how to hit a mark. However, it sounds like it was a sweet moment between Bautista and Jackson.

As audience members, we are often immersed in whatever story actors are trying to tell us. However, for the actor it’s often about being in the right place the director needs you to be, and Dave Bautista has mastered that craft with the help of a master.

After over a decade of projects, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is still going strong, releasing blockbuster movies as well as live-action shows that are available with a Disney+ subscription. There are lots of stories being told, but certain franchises like The Guardians of the Galaxy remain fan favorites. The cast got a strong bond, with Dave Bautista revealing the emotional moment he said goodbye to the MCU (and you can see it in Guardians Vol. 3).

The ending of Guardians 3 offered a happy ending to the motley crew of cosmic heroes, and Dave Bautista seemingly isn't set to return for upcoming Marvel movies. While speaking with The AV Club about his career, the Knock at the Cabin actor reflected on a scene from the movie's finale, where Drax and Mantis say goodbye as "Dog Days Are Over" plays. As he shared:

I'm not crying, you're crying. This cast clearly has a strong bond, which resonated in their performances throughout three Guardians movies, two Avengers flicks, a brief role in Thor: Love and Thunder, and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.

After learning about what was going on in Dave Bautista's mind in this scene, it makes it even more powerful on the re-watch. The wrestler turned actor offers a vulnerable and moving performance without words, saying goodbye to both Mantis and the role as a whole. I mean, just look at this screenshot:

While title cards at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 claimed that Chris Pratt's Star-Lord would be back, but it's unclear when this might be. And as for the rest of the beloved characters like Drax, James Gunn's threequel might have been the final bow. Although Bautista is hoping to work with his cast mates in other projects, with fans hoping that could be in the DCU.

Narratively, there are a number of stories that can be continued from the Guardians. Drax and Nebula are the leader of Knowhere, Mantis set off on her own adventures, Gamora is with the Ravagers, and Rocket is leading the New Guardians. And as we saw, Star-Lord has finally made his way back to Earth to reunite with his grandfather.

The Guardians of the Galaxy franchise is streaming in its entirety on Disney+. Be sure to check the 2025 movie release dates, including Captain America: Brave New World on February 14th.

Maybe it’s just because of the popularity and success of the John Wick franchise, but it feels like we’ve had an awful lot of “professional killer” movies of late. Not just movies that feature criminals, but movies that feature criminals in a way that frames their profession as not much different from the average nine-to-five job (except that instead of punching a time clock, they pull triggers).

The Killer’s Game is the latest in the “one man versus an arena full of professional assassins” genre. It stars Dave Bautista in the lead role of the “one man” this time around. He’s a former soldier-turned-professional-killer Joe Flood. Joe is the best hired killer in Europe, though he’ll only take your job if you want him to kill somebody who is a “bad guy.” This is our movie's hero after all; you wouldn't want the professional assassin to be unlikeable.

During one mission, Joe meets professional dancer Maize (Sofia Boutella), and following the advice of his mentor (Ben Kingsley), he decides to try to have a life – not just end them. The pair fall in love, but things take a turn when the killer learns he has an incurable disease. He decides to take out a hit on himself to set up Maize for life and spare himself an agonizing prolonged death. But when it turns out Joe isn’t dying after all, he now has to figure out a way to stay alive.

The Killer’s Game then opens the floodgates with a variety of other professional assassins who are looking to make millions by taking out Joe Flood. Everybody has their own style, a cute nickname, and a gimmick that usually leads to a unique fight sequence. The only thing they have in common is that large quantities of their blood are sprayed everywhere as a result of the fight.

The Killer’s Game plays it oddly straight before it goes completely off the rails. 

There's a pretty jarring shift in tone opening A Killer’s Game. The first act of the movie is remarkably subdued in comparison to what follows. The focus on Joe and Maize’s relationship is handled in the same way any dramatic meet-cute would be. And both actors are up to the task. It's an adorable relationship. It's unfortunate that it eventually gets the short end of the stick in the film.

Dave Bautista has separated himself from his professional wrestling brethren who have turned to acting by being a guy willing to take roles that aren’t just action movies. We've seen him be funny in Guardians of the Galaxy and serious in A Knock at the Cabin. The beginning of The Killer’s Game gives us a glimpse of what Bautista is capable of as a dramatic, even a romantic lead. He’s not likely going to star in a Jane Austen adaptation anytime soon, but it’s a step in the right direction.

 Dave Bautista shines in the lead. 

If The Killer’s Game had continued to focus on the relationship drama, maybe things would have improved, but instead, the story shifts hard into “action mode,” and the experience become a live-action cartoon rather than a dramatic action movie. It's not that the moment when a character is introduced by having her name spelled out in the blood of her victim is "bad;" it's just jarring, as nothing before it indicates the movie is going to have this sort of tone.

The Killer's Game was first adapted from the novel on which it's based in the 1990s, and the script has been through multiple hands in the years since. The final product feels like not only were there multiple writers but that different writers were exclusively in charge of different parts of the story, leading to a disjointed whole.

As a fast-paced action-comedy, The Killer's Game still works once you get used to it. The various assassins trying to kill Joe, including Lovedahl (Terry Crews) and a pair of Scottish brothers (Scott Adkins and the WWE's Drew McIntyre) with a brogue so thick they are subtitled, are all entertaining in their own right. The problem there is that only Crews' character actually plays a significant part of the story. The rest are ultimately just fodder for Bautista, as many of them are gone as quickly as they get introduced.

This problem is even more present for Bautista's Guardians of the Galaxy co-star Pom Klementieff. Her character is leading the charge to kill Joe Flood, which seems destined to lead to something interesting, perhaps a big "set piece" action scene. But then it just...doesn't.

The Killer’s Game has solid action, but it is lacking in comparison to other recent and similar films.

The over-the-top action is solid. Director J.J. Perry is the latest in a line of former stunt coordinators who have become directors. He clearly understands the fundamentals of directing action, and this movie gives plenty of different ways to show it. Whether you prefer your action hand-to-hand or with lots of guns, there will be something here worth checking out.

The Killer’s Game doesn’t do anything particularly badly, the problem is that it doesn’t do anything we haven’t seen before or do anything better than other, similar movies. From the previously mentioned John Wick to Smokin' Aces to Bullet Train, the idea of a criminal underworld full of eccentric characters all trying to kill each other is a premise that’s been done. If this movie had been made back when the adaptation was first in the works, then it would have at least been something new, but now it just feels like it's following a trend for the sake of it.

The Killer’s Game completes its assignment, but it does so in unremarkable fashion. It’s a solid journeyman effort, and movie fans looking for some violent action will get what they’re looking for. It’s just unlikely they’ll remember much about it once the credits roll.

Dave Bautista’s best movies are action-packed, and his physique makes him the perfect action hero or villain. But, despite all of the major movies the Marvel veteran has been in, Bautista says he still feels “unfulfilled” as an actor, as he wants to branch into every genre. He previously claimed no one would cast him in a rom-com, but it now seems that Bautista’s dream of being a romantic comedy lead might finally come true -- and I’m so pumped for him!

Even though Dave Bautista looks like such a tough guy on screen, I think he has the charm necessary to sweep anyone off their feet on the big screen. Even Brittany Snow called the former wrestler “the sweetest man,” which led to him being cast in her movie, Parachute. Over a year after Bautista publicly stated that he’d love to star in a rom-com, he delivered great news to THR, as he revealed that progress has been made:

Can we please get this man a rom-com? He'd be perfect! He not only possesses great screen presence but, as previously, he also has a warmth that shines through a number of his roles. The Dune star also wouldn't be the first actor to jump to a rom-com after making a name for himself with more intense roles.

For instance, The Sopranos' James Gandolfini starred in the over-90%-Rotten Tomatoes-rated rom-com Enough Said with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and was praised. It was his first starring role in the feel-good genre, and he did a superb job showing a funnier, gentler side. Quite frankly, I love seeing actors with "tough-guy" personas take on the rom-com genre, showing their versatility and vulnerability

Back in 2023, Dave Bautista said that he believed he'd yet to score a rom-com because he was "unattractive," which is heartbreaking. But, after Bautista expressed his desire to dive into the genre, fans and were quick to rally around him and pitch ideas. Even The Mandalorian's Katy O’Brien offered to be his co-star in a rom-com. So it's definitely evident that the A-lister has a lot of support in this endeavor.

The WWE vet's next movie, The Killer’s Game, is still in the action-comedy genre, it'll still put the Riddick actor in a role where he has a love interest, played by Sofia Boutella. The Algerian actress said she loved seeing her co-star’s transformation in the movie and found him very “touching.” His KG and Guardians of the Galaxy co-star, Pom Klementieff, also believed the film would allow him to showcase his “softer side."

Dave Bautista’s transition into a romantic lead in The Killer’s Game should provide a slight taste of how he'd perform in a rom-com. I’m really excited for Bautista’s rom-com dream to finally come true and hope that his plans come together accordingly. For now, know that you can see Bautista’s romantic side shine through in the aforementioned action flick, which opens on September 13th amid the 2024 movie schedule.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is showing no signs of slowing down, constantly releasing new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. While there's no shortage of stories to follow, a few stand out as fan favorites. Fans who watched the Marvel movies in order know that chief among them is James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, which wrapped up with Vol. 3. Drax actor Dave Bautista is down for a Guardians reunion, but not where you'd expect. 

The ending of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 offered a happy ending for the beloved cosmic heroes, and it's unclear if we'll ever see most of the characters again. Dave Bautista said goodbye to Drax after wrapping the threequel, and during a recent conversation with ComicBook, he addressed wanting to work with the cast again. In his words:

Honestly, take my money now. The Guardians cast has stellar chemistry, and it would be fun to see them back on the big screen in something set outside of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although fans are no doubt still hoping to see the team back together in an upcoming Marvel movie.

With James Gunn the new co-CEO of the DCU, he's not expected to return to the MCU anytime soon. After all, what's the Guardians franchise without his vision? Some moviegoers want to see the cast reunite on a DC project, with Gunn once again behind the camera. In the same interview, Bautista addressed this possibility, saying:

This comment is sure to please comic book fans, and smart money says that it'll inspire some fan theories about who the Guardians of the Galaxy cast could end up playing if they joined the DC Universe. For his part, Chris Pratt think he could appear in the DCU and MCU at the same time. 

Dave Bautista is seemingly happy with a break from Drax's intense makeup, and there are a number of character that fans want to see him play if he pivoted to DC. He's reacted to Bane rumors, but he's expressed interest in putting his spin on Lex Luthor. Hopefully we lands a role in the DCU sooner rather than later, preferably alongside some of his Guardians buddies.

The Guardians of the Galaxy franchise is streaming now on Disney+, and the MCU will return to theaters with Captain America: Brave New World on February 14th. For now, check the 2025 movie release dates. 

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine at this point, constantly releasing new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Fans like me who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order saw as James Gunn made the Guardians of the Galaxy into fan favorite characters.

The ending of Guardians Vol. 3 gave all of them happy ending, and it's unclear if we'll see them in any upcoming Marvel movies. Drax in particular looks like he's gone, as Dave Bautista has been open about needing a break from the makeup. During a recent interview with THR, the 55 year-old star got honest about his feelings now that there's been some distance from his signature character. In his words:

This is an emotional response, one that is sure to elicit a strong reaction from fans of the cosmic franchise. The Guardians of the Galaxy cast and crew clearly bonded deeply during their time together, which spanned three movies and a Holiday Special. Case in point: the cast signed a letter of solidarity for James Gunn when he was temporarily fired by the studio.

So while Bautista doesn't necessarily miss chewing the scenery (and zarg-nuts) as Drax, it's tough dealing with the fact that the group will never assemble in the same way again. In the same interview, the wrestler-turned-actor revealed how little closure he got from the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise thanks to scheduling issues. In his words:

Well now even I'm a little heartbroken. It's so heartening to see how strong the connection is within the Guardians franchise, and that chemistry definitely showed onscreen. Maybe this strong emotion will inspire him to play Drax again sometime in the future. Hey, we can dream!

The title cards that played at the end of Guardians 3 claimed that Chris Pratt's Star-Lord would be back, but there's been no news about when that might be. But there are interesting narratives to pull from the entire group. Rocket is the leader of the new Guardians, Mantis is on adventure by herself, and Nebula and Drax are the leaders of Knowhere.

The Guardians of the Galaxy franchise is streaming now on Disney+. The MCU's next release is Captain America: Brave New World on February 14th. While we wait, check the 2025 movie release dates.

Years ago, when Dave Bautista pitched a movie co-starring himself and Jason Momoa, some people may have doubted that the project would actually come to fruition. Ultimately, though, it was confirmed in 2023 that the film – titled The Wrecking Crew – was in the works. This past year has seen a number of developments on the upcoming action movie, specifically in regard to the cast. It seems that Momoa and Bautista are going to be joined by some truly talented stars. It now looks like the massive movie has tapped a Deadpool & Wolverine star for a role, and I’m getting even more pumped for this film!

Fresh off her appearance in Marvel Studios’ latest blockbuster behemoth, Morena Baccarin is reportedly joining The Wrecking Crew. News of the fan-favorite actress’ casting comes by way of The Hollywood Reporter, which revealed details on the star’s role. Per the report, she’ll play the girlfriend of Jason Momoa’s character. Apparently, Baccarin’s character takes issue with her partner’s array of wild antics. Neither the actress herself nor Amazon MGM Studios have commented on her hiring.

Morena Baccarin certainly has plenty of experience when it comes to big-budget, Hollywood productions. Greenland, Serenity and Spy are just a few of the notable films she’s been a part of over the years. And, of course, she’s starred in all three Deadpool movies as Vanessa Carlysle – Wade Wilson’s love interest. It’s interesting that Baccarin’s newly landed movie once again puts her in the shoes of a woman dealing with a boyfriend who has a wild lifestyle.

The Son of Batman alum joins a cast that includes a few other familiar faces. Star Wars icon Temuera Morrison, Spider-Man alum Jacob Batalon, Get Out’s Stephen Root and The Northman’s Claes Bang are among those who are part of the ensemble. Rounding out the group are The Expanse’s Frankie Adams and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’s Miyavi. And directing the film is Ángel Manuel Soto, who most recently directed 2023’s Blue Beetle.

As previously mentioned, the idea for the film was sparked by Dave Bautista who took to X (which was Twitter at the time) to share an idea for a film led by him and Jason Momoa. Bautista imagined a Lethal Weapon-esque, buddy cop film. The Wrecking Crew, which was written by Jonathan Tropper, sees the two leading men playing half brothers. One is a by-the-book Navy SEAL (Bautista), and the other is an off-the-wall cop (Momoa). In the film, the two must cast aside their decades of issues and work together to solve the mystery of their father’s murder.

Both of the co-leads have expressed excitement over the production, and that’s especially been true when it comes to Jason Momoa. The Aquaman alum previously explained how the buddy cop romp came together, crediting the Guardians of the Galaxy star for getting it going. This past spring, Momoa also posted about getting back into the gym in preparation for the film, saying that he’s “gotta get ready for Bautista!”

The notion of the two action stars sharing the screen together is a fun notion on its own. However, I’m also glad that Ángel Manuel Soto is filling out his ensemble with other talented stars, including Morena Baccarin. I’m hoping that she receives some time to shine amid the explosive proceedings.

A release date has yet to be announced for The Wrecking Crew, though one would hope that it’ll be released amid the 2025 movie schedule. What’s likely, though, is that at some point down the road, it’ll be available for those with a Prime Video subscription to enjoy.

There are two fandoms that love to argue the most: wrestling and movies. Put those two worlds together and you have yourself a gauntlet match of opinions, especially when it comes to who is the best wrestler-turned-actor. This very thing happened in a recent Reddit post when someone claimed that Dave Bautista was the best actor out of WWE when compared to John Cena and Dwayne Johnson, aka, The Rock, and the trail of comments looked like a battle royal of wrestling opinions.

As a wrestling fan myself and someone who has an unhealthy obsession with movies starring wrestlers, I too have opinions on the age-old question: Who is the best WWE alum to make the jump from the squared circle to the silver screen? Let’s break down what fans are saying about one of the biggest arguments in wrestling and dive into where I stand on the matter.

Fans Are Going Back And Forth, But Seem To Agree On One Thing

Going through these comments was honestly a great way to spend a few minutes on Monday morning. This whole post, which had 800-plus comments at the time of this writing, was mostly filled with back-and-forth replies with people arguing Dave Bautista was the best of the three when it came to his dramatic roles:

While it is true that Bautista is mostly known outside of wrestling for his portrayal of Drax in several of the best Marvel movies and his contributions to the “big man and little kid” action flicks like the My Spy franchise, his range doesn’t stop there. The former WWE champion’s roles in Blade Runner 2049, The Boy and the Heron, and even the Guardians of the Galaxy movies have all shown off his tremendous range.

In response to that, another Redditor agreed with Bautista’s dramatic prowess but also made a case for John Cena as a comedic actor before making a dig at The Rock:

There’s no doubt that Cena has found a niche in Hollywood by playing over-the-top characters while also not being afraid to poke fun at himself along the way. I mean, his turn in Jackpot! was so absurd and self-deprecating, especially in the hilarious end credits sequence, and his side-splitting performance on Peacemaker shows that this guy has it.

The two camps make good points for their respective sides in this heavyweight fight but seem to agree on one thing: The Rock is at the bottom of the pack. Here’s how one Redditor put it:

Sure, Dwayne Johnson can claim to be “Franchise Viagra,” but the Final Boss of WWE doesn’t have Bautista’s dramatic range and he never seems to fully commit to poking fun at himself like Cena. But with The Rock leading Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine, we could be seeing a more dynamic performance when the upcoming A24 movie is released.

At the end of the day, wrestling and movies are both subjective artforms, which is what makes this time of discourse so much fun. And with plenty of 2024 movies on the way and some promising upcoming WWE events, it seems like we’ll be having similar conversations for quite some time.

Dave Bautista has come a long way from his days as a professional wrestler (though he does still pay homage to his signature WWE move in his flicks). Over the past decade, Bautista has put in a host of great performances through films like Guardians of the Galaxy and Blade Runner 2049. And, in 2023 alone, he starred in three major productions, which is incredibly impressive. He also has a few titles that are currently sitting on the 2024 movie schedule. Despite the fact that there are already so many great Bautista-led films out there, it seems that the leading man still feels “unfulfilled” as an actor. And, honestly, his reason for that is understandable.

The 55-year-old star has most recently been promoting his latest endeavor – the 2024 movie schedule entry My Spy: The Eternal City. While chatting with ET, the A-lister not only discussed the flick but was also candid about some of the internal challenges he’s wrestled with from a professional standpoint. He’s certainly accomplished quite a bit during his time working within the Hollywood system, though it sounds like he has a few other goals in mind:

So, on the whole, the former Drax the Destroyer actor wants to dip his toes into a number of different genres. Given that he’s an actor, it’s only natural that he’d want to help tell a vast array of stories. However, I’d argue that the humble wrestler-turned-movie star is being a little too hard on himself. His filmography is already filled to the brim with movies that belong to different genres. The 007 espionage thriller Spectre, the martial arts drama Master Z: Ip Man Legacy and the mystery comedy Glass Onion are just a few of the titles on that list. And, in 2023, he starred in the sci-fi flick Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, psychological horror film Knock at the Cabin and animated fantasy epic The Boy and the Heron. So the actor has certainly been around, but his perspective does speak to his discipline and humility.

There are indeed some professional milestones that Dave Bautista has yet to reach, though. Something that he still seems keen on doing is landing a directing gig. During his conversation with ET, he was honest about why he’s still so eager to sit in the big chair at some point:

Considering how meticulous the Army of the Dead star has proven to be, it’s not difficult to envision him helming a film. I, for one, hope that he gets the opportunity to do that at some point. What he’d surely excel at in that position is working with actors, as he could surely empathize with his stars while they’re engaged in the more nuanced aspects of crafting a performance. Seriously, can Hollywood make a Dave Bautista-helmed flick happen?

More recently, Dave Bautista has had his hands full with acting work. Having already starred in this year’s Dune: Part Two, he’s looking towards the releases of two more 2024 releases – The Killer’s Game and The Last Showgirl. Beyond that, he also has the post-apocalyptic action film Afterburn and other projects on the horizon. I’m loving that the WWE alum is staying book and busy but also hopeful that he’ll eventually find the fulfillment he seeks. You can catch Bautista’s latest movie, My Spy: The Eternal City, by streaming it with a Prime Video subscription.

If you take a look at some of the great Dave Bautista movies, you’ll find some of the best Marvel movies, a couple of titles from the list of all-time great sci-fi films, and so much more. Since the wrestler-turned-actor stepped away from the squared circle as a full-timer more than a decade ago, he’s given commanding lead performances and played unforgettable supporting roles that have honestly made him one of the most interesting and versatile faces in Hollywood.

So, if you want to revisit Bautista’s portrayal of Drax the Destroyer in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, check out his complex take on Rabban in the Dune films, or some of his additions to the buddy action genre, we’ve got you covered. Here’s how to watch all of those and more on some of the best streaming services.

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Though he only briefly appears in Blade Runner 2049, Denis Villeneuve’s sequel to Ridley Scott’s landmark sci-fi film, Dave Bautista’s Sapper Morton is one of the most consequential figures in the entire movie. Set decades after the events of the first film, the movie starts with Ryan Gosling’s K tracking down Morton, an on-the-run replicant, a figure who essentially sets the stage for the rest of the film.

This would also be the first time Bautista, who was on the rise as an actor at the time, worked with Villeneuve, a pairing that would continue with the well-received Dune films a few years later.

Rent/Buy Blade Runner 2049 on Amazon.
Buy it on 4K on Amazon.

The Dune Movies (2021, 2024)

Glossu Rabban is not only one of Bautista’s best roles, but the nephew of Baron Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård) is also one of the most interesting and captivating characters in the entire Dune film franchise so far. While he doesn't get much to do in the first movie, Rabban is a key figure in Dune: Part Two, transforming from one of the big bads to an extremely complex and sympathetic character by the end.

Bautista shows off both his physicality and emotional range as an actor in these movies, and his performances show just how much he’s grown as an actor over the past decade.

Stream Dune on Max.
Stream Dune: Part Two on Max.
Rent/Buy Dune on Amazon.
Rent/Buy Dune: Part Two on Amazon.
Buy Dune on Blu-ray on Amazon.
Buy Dune: Part Two on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Guardians Of The Galaxy Movies (2014 - 2023)

Try to imagine a world in which Dave Bautista wasn’t cast as Drax the Destroyer, one of the most beloved and strongest Marvel characters, in James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy all those years ago. It’s hard to think of anyone other than Bautista playing the OG GOTG because he was just so damn good in the role and made it his own.

Whether it was in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, his appearances in the third and fourth Avengers movies, or various other films in the MCU, Bautista killed it as Drax, and we have his time with Marvel to thank for propelling the former WWE Champion to such heights.

Stream the Guardians of the Galaxy Movies on Disney+.
Buy the Guardians of the Galaxy 3-Movie Collection Amazon.
Buy the Guardians of the Galaxy 3-Movie Collection on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Boy And The Heron (2023)

Easily one of the best Studio Ghibli movies, The Boy and the Heron is also one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most emotional and transfixing films to date. After a young boy, still grieving his dead mother, enters a fantastical world to find his missing stepmother, he embarks upon a life-changing journey and meets all kinds of strange characters along the way.

Dave Bautista comes into the picture as the Parakeet King, an anthropomorphic ruler who has multiple run-ins with Mahito Maki (Luca Padovan) as he tries to get back home. Just like Bautista as an actor, the Parakeet King is a complex and nuanced character that steals the show.

Stream The Boy and the Heron on Max.
Buy The Boy and the Heron on Amazon.
Buy it on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, the second installment in Rian Johnson’s murder mystery series, has been one of the best movies on Netflix since its release back in 2022 and features a tremendous performance by Dave Bautista. More of a caricature than anything else, Bautista plays Duke Cody, a men’s rights activist and streamer who gets wrapped up in the big scheme.

Featuring one of his funniest performances, this instant-classic whodunit is worth checking out or revisiting.

Stream Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery on Netflix.

Spectre (2015)

When it comes to big, bad henchmen in the James Bond movies, Bautista’s Mr. Hinx from Spectre is up there on the list. The top assassin in the Spectre organization, Hinx gave Daniel Craig’s 007 a run for his money multiple times throughout the 2015 spy-action thriller and looked cool as hell in the process.

Sure, he wasn’t as charismatic as he was in Guardians of the Galaxy the year before, but the physicality and mentality of the character make this a Bautista movie worth checking out.

Stream Spectre on Prime Video.
Rent/Buy Spectre on Amazon.
Buy it on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Army Of The Dead (2021)

One of the best zombie movies in recent memory, Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead can best be described as “Oceans Eleven meets Dawn of the Dead” but with loads of action. It’s funny, it’s heartful, and exciting as can be, and a lot of the best scenes are those with Dave Bautista’s Scott Ward, the leader of a group of mercenaries sent into a zombie-filled Las Vegas.

The former wrestler once again shows off his acting range in Army of the Dead and allows him to kick all kinds of ass along the way.

Stream Army of the Dead on Netflix.

Stuber (2019)

Released back in 2019, Stuber is a buddy action comedy starring Dave Bautista and Kumail Nanjiani that is full of ‘80s action Easter eggs and some great chemistry by its two main stars. Recovering from eye surgery, LAPD detective Vic Manning (Bautista) gets a ride from Uber driver, Stu Prasad (Nanjiani) after getting a tip about a wanted crime lord. What follows is one wild and hilarious situation after another.

Playing a tough yet out-of-touch cop feels natural for Bautista, who plays the role better than anyone else could. 

Rent/Buy Stuber on Amazon.
Buy it on Blu-ray on Amazon.

My Spy (2019)

My Spy pairs Bautista with child actor Chloe Coleman to create a hilarious and action-packed experience for all ages. One of the better movies starring an action star and a young kid, Peter Segal’s 2020 Prime Video original film has a lot of fun with the concept while also adding to it a great deal.

As the title suggests, Bautista plays J.J. a CIA agent who is blackmailed into training Sophie (Coleman) to be a spy after she catches him spying on her family during an investigation. Wholesome comedy and explosive action make this a fun watch.

Stream My Spy on Prime Video.

Knock At The Cabin (2023)

M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin is part psychological thriller and part end-of-the-world disaster film and tells the story of a family who is visited by a group of strangers who offer them an ultimatum: sacrifice one of their own or bring on the apocalypse. 

Bautista comes into the picture as Leonard, the leader of the mysterious group and someone who seems to know how the world will come to an end. One of the actor’s more complex roles, the performance helps carry the horror film.

Stream Knock at the Cabin on Peacock.
Rent/Buy Knock at the Cabin on Amazon.
Buy it on Blu-ray on Amazon.

With several upcoming Dave Bautista films on the 2024 movie schedule and beyond, we can expect to see much more of the Marvel star in the near future. 

We are in something of a golden age of professional wrestlers-turned-actors. From Dwayne Johnson to John Cena to Dave Bautista, we have three of the most successful to ever make the transition working at the same time. And while Bautista has arguably separated himself from the WWE more than the other two since both The Rock and Cena have returned to WWE recently, he still loves where he came from and he’s even shouting out to his fans in his films.

Dave Bautista’s newest film, My Spy: The Eternal City, includes a fight scene with a moment that will look very familiar to fans of Batista, the former WWE Champion. He drops an opponent with a Batista Bomb, the signature move he used to put away opponents during his wrestling career. He tells ComcBook.com that he came up with the idea to put it in the film, and now wants to put it in all of his movies. Bautista said:

While I haven’t had a chance to see My Spy: The Eternal City yet, I’ll certainly be keeping my eye out for the Batista Bomb in the movie, and every action scene that Bautista is in from here on out I’ll be watching to see if he does it. And now I need to go back through his old movies and see if there’s one in there I missed.

Dave Bautista isn’t the first professional wrestler to include his signature move in an action movie. Both John Cena and Dwayne Johnson have done it. In fact, they’ve done it in the same franchise. John Cena used his Attitude Adjustment in the recent Fast X and Dwayne Johnson hit Jason Statham with a Rock Bottom in Furious 7.

Honestly, Dave Bautista will likely have trouble putting a Batista Bomb in every movie he’s in. While his fellow former WWE stars have largely focused on action films in their movie careers, Batista has taken a more varied selection of roles. While he certainly could have found a way to Batista Bomb James Bond, there wouldn’t have been much reason to justify one in Knock at the Cabin or Glass Onion.

But WWE fans should keep their eye on upcoming Dave Bautista films on the 2024 movie schedule. He’s set to appear in both the action movie The Killer’s Game and the fantasy film In the Lost Lands later this year, and if he is sneaking more Batista bombs into films, we could very well see them there.

Have you ever heard the description of a movie character and immediately thought of a real person? That’s apparently the sensation former WWE star turned actor Dave Bautista felt ahead of his upcoming movie The Killer’s Game. The big man was talking to director JJ Perry about a role that needed to be cast. The more he talked about what they were looking for, the more a really specific WWE star came to mind.

The WWE star in question is, of course, former WWE Champion Drew McIntyre. He was doing press around the recent Scotland-set PPV Clash At The Castle when he was asked about his upcoming appearance in The Killer’s Game. Here’s how he hilariously told the backstory of his casting in an interview with Irish Wrestling And Entertainment…

To say Drew McIntyre is on a fantastic run right now would be a colossal understatement. The Scottish Warrior returned to WWE and was arguably the company’s most consistent star during the pandemic, but he seemed to be stuck in the mud and was losing momentum quickly for much of 2023. Then the writers pivoted his character from being a good guy to a bad guy (or babyface to a heel in wrestling terms), and he’s been on the rise ever since. He’s now arguably once again the most talked about superstar on the entire roster (at least with Roman Reigns and The Rock on hiatus), and it seems likely he will main event SummerSlam in a few months, which is widely considered to be WWE’s second biggest PPV of the year.

WWE has a long history of turning its superstars into major Hollywood players. Bautista, The Rock and John Cena are huge stars who regularly lead major budget movies, and long before that, guys like Andre The Giant and Hulk Hogan became major celebrities. More recently, a host of famous faces deeper on the roster have started appearing regularly in movies and TV shows. Seth Rollins shot scenes for an upcoming Marvel movie (though there may be bad news there). Liv Morgan appeared in Chucky. The Miz was on Dancing With The Stars, and there are countless other examples.

The Killer’s Game is being distributed by Lionsgate and is set to be released this September. It stars Dave Bautista as an assassin who puts out a hit on himself after he’s diagnosed with an incurable health condition. Fortunately or unfortunately, he later discovers the diagnosis was a mistake and is suddenly in the position of having to fight for his life against the assassins he already hired. It looks like a lot of fun, and by all accounts, should contain the perfect role for Drew McIntyre.

Given the ongoing popularity of the superhero genre, plenty of actors have jumped in and taking a role from the comics. Jason Momoa's run as Aquaman ended with The Lost Kingdom, and he's been keeping busy with a number of other projects... while also joking about his dad bod. Now Momoa’s getting back to the gym after his dad bod phase, and the video does not disappoint.

While Jason Momoa isn't shy about showing off his body, he's no longer as ripped as he was in Justice League (which can be streamed with a Max subscription). But that's seemingly going to change, at least according to Momoa's Instagram post at the gym. Check out the video of him working out, name dropping actors like Dave Bautista and Chris Hemsworth in the process. 

And that's why Momoa is such a beloved celebrity. The public loves his big personality, and how it translates to his performance in projects like Dune. We'll just have to continue following his fitness journey, and see if Momoa gets Justice League  ripped again. 

Seeing Momoa focus on his physique might get some fans excited that he'll appear in an upcoming DC movie, albeit not as Aquaman. It's currently unclear, but he specifically referenced another upcoming movie: The Wrecking Crew. In it he'll reunite with Dune co-star Dave Bautista, who he specifically mentioned in the above video. Momoa said:

Dave Bautista has a hulking physicality, no doubt thanks to his roots in professional wrestling. And as such, Momoa wants to make sure he looks the part when sharing the screen with him. Because while his Aquaman 2 suit gave him some fake muscles, the Guardians of the Galaxy alum is the real thing.

Of course, Bautista isn't the only person that Jason Momoa called out in his viral video. He also name-dropped Chris Hemsworth, saying:

Momoa and Hemsworth have fake beefed online about fitness, and it looks like that's continuing in this recent Instagram video. And thanks to this, I really want to see the pair of actors collaborate on a movie project. After seeing Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman's faux feud pay off in Deadpool & Wolverine, maybe they could get the same treatment. Fingers crossed.

Jason Momoa is attached to a bunch of upcoming projects including The Wrecking Crew. Unfortunately, he didn't reprise his role as Duncan Idaho in Dune 2. While we wait for him to return to the big screen, check the 2024 movie release dates. 

Dave Bautista’s made a name for himself as an actor star, who's appeared in a number of massive movies. However, he's also been looking to step away from his those roles and play a romantic lead. Despite that interest, Bautista claims no one will cast him in a romantic comedy. Fans and writers subsequently got behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe veteran, rallying for him to be cast in such a production. Now, after his viral comments, Star Wars alum Katy O'Brian is voicing her interest in playing his co-star in a rom-com.

Many would probably agree that the leading man has shown his comedic chops in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise and Glass Onion. He also has a tender side that's come through in some of his performances. So it's weird that a rom-com has still eluded the movie star. The Mandalorian’s Katy O’Brian heard the actor’s comments, and she's totally down to join him in rom-com. While discussing her professional aspirations with EW, the actress, who performed some intimate scenes in Love Lies Bleeding, name-dropped the Dune star for a potential project:

I don't know about you, but I think Dave Bautista and Katy O’Brian would make an interesting rom-com match, and they has also have things in common. For instance, both stars share a bodybuilding background. Bautista became a pro-wrestling and MMA star, while O’Brian worked as a police officer and bodybuilder before their acting breakthroughs. They've also both worked in the MCU, with Bautista playing Drax across multiple Marvel films and O'Brian playing freedom fighter Jentorra in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. While both stars have carved out solid lanes for themselves, it would be nice to see them branch out.

Katy O’Brian also mentioned a nice segue with an action-comedy. So, maybe a potential film could be an action-rom-com hybrid with her and Dave Bautista headlining. Nevertheless, the impression I get is that Bautista wants to be a traditional romantic lead à la Glen Powell or Ryan Gosling. I'm confident he could do it, especially since he showed his softer side in his friend Brittany Snow’s directorial debut, Parachute.

Right now might be the time for the stars to strike, as rom-coms are making a serious comeback – both theatrically and streaming-wise. Ticket to Paradise and Anyone But You alone are firm examples of that trend. Mixing original narratives with traditional rom-com elements (or subverting them) might work in the action actors' favor. Even leaning into the horror genre could work as well.

Of course, there’s no Dave Bautista-Katy O’Brian rom-com announced… yet. But let's keep our fingers crossed that both stars get the opportunity to flex their acting muscles and lead such a film down the road.

At present, both actors have new releases coming on the 2024 movie schedule. Hot off the heels of Love Lies Bleeding, Katy O’Brian will be seen in the summer blockbuster Twisters, which arrives in cinemas on July 19. Dave Bautista, meanwhile, will star in the sequel My Spy: The Eternal City after the mega-success of Dune: Part Two. The action comedy will be available to stream with a Prime Video subscription starting July 18. 

Avatar: The Last Airbender's world is about to get bigger, because Paramount just gave a massive update about the first of three standalone animated Avatar films that are in development. Leading these movies will be Aang: The Last Airbender which will feature Eric Nam as the grown-up avatar and Dave Bautista as the big bad. And let me tell you, when I found out the Marvel veteran would be voicing the next villain in this universe, I got so excited!

Coming straight out of the Paramount panel at CinemaCon (via Variety) the thrilling cast for the first ATLA project in the works was announced, notably including Dave Bautista as the big guy. Considering his history of iconic, menacing and funny roles, I think he's quite literally the perfect fit for this part. 

If you’ve seen the Marvel movies in order, you know Dave Bautista can bring both levity and violence to a moment. Drax was such a funny character, however, I was also deeply scared of him at times. I’d love to see the actor bring that energy to the Avatar universe. I can picture his legendary laugh and intense tone in this animated film now, and I think it will be epic. 

It’s also worth noting that this will be another major feather in Dave Bautista’s cap when it comes to voice acting. In 2023, he played The Parakeet King in Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron’s English version, and he killed it. Plus, when you think about the range of his work from Dune to Knock at the Cabin to Glass Onion, it becomes clear that he’ll bring something new and unexpected to this part. Truly, I have no doubt that this wrestler-turned-actor is the perfect choice for Avatar’s next big bad. 

Other than Bautista voicing the antagonist, we don't know much about his character. However, considering Mark Hamill's terrifying take on Fire Lord Ozai and the incredibly unique villains we got in Legend of Korra, I assume the Guardians of the Galaxy star's character and performance will be big, bad and memorable just like the ones that came before him.

Along with the Glass Onion star, Eric Nam will voice Aang, and Dionne Quan, Jessica Matten and Román Zaragoza are set to star in the project. Adding to that excitement, the animated series’ creators, Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko are set to produce, and Lauren Montgomery, who worked on Nickelodeon’s ATLA, will direct the film alongside William Mata.  

Obviously, plot details are non-existent at the moment, but we do have a release date: October 10, 2025, and we know the film will get a theatrical release. So, mark your calendars, because this movie, and especially Dave Bautista's performance as the villain, will not be something you want to miss. 

Even though the wait for this upcoming Avatar movie seems long, have no fear. You can fill the time between now and October 2025 by streaming the OG animated Avatar: The Last Airbender, its Netflix live-action adaptation that premiered on the 2024 TV schedule and The Legend of Korra with a Netflix subscription. 

In the matter of a decade, Dave Bautista has become one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, between his role as Drax the Destroyer in the Marvel movies, finding a role in a James Bond film and being a part of the Dune 2 cast among a long list of credits to his name. Bautista’s latest part is in Brittany Snow’s indie directorial debut, Parachute, where he plays the manager of a struggling murder mystery diner. When CinemaBlend spoke to the Pitch Perfect star, she shared how Bautista became part of the thoughtful drama.

Parachute is a personal movie to Brittany Snow, who has called it somewhat “autobiographical” to her own experiences. It follows a young woman named Riley (Yellowstone’s Courtney Eaton), who forms a complex relationship with a guy named Ethan (Thomas Mann) after getting out of rehab for an eating disorder. When I asked her about the story behind Dave Bautista’s involvement, here’s what she shared:

Brittany Snow and Dave Bautista both starred in a 2017 action thriller called Bushwick, where Snow played a graduate student who ends up rolling with Bautista’s combat veteran character, Stupe, following an intense incident on the streets of Brooklyn's Bushwick neighborhood. During the making of the movie, Snow shared that she became good friends with Bautista and they’d been itching to work together again. As she continued:

Bautista has a lot he’s juggling as a Hollywood star, especially now as he transitions from playing Drax in the MCU to being in a buddy cop movie with Jason Momoa and doing an apocalyptic action movie with Samuel L. Jackson. His role in Parachute isn’t really his typical M.O., but like Brittany Snow shared, she wrote the part specifically for him as a tribute to their real-life friendship.

As Snow spoke about, Bautista came into her life at a pivotal moment where she really needed a shoulder to lean on set. They’ve remained friends since, and she wrote the role of Bryce to show others how “genuine” and “sweet” he is in real life. The small role has him providing support to Riley as she attempts to move forward in her life following rehab. There’s some cute heart-to-heart moments between Eaton and Bautista that shows a side of the actor we don’t usually see.

Parachute is now playing in theaters and set to hit VOD on April 12. Check out what other 2024 movies are coming out in April here on CinemaBlend.

This past weekend, audiences everywhere got to see Dave Bautista back on the big screen raging it up as Glossu "Beast" Rabban in Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Two, but all of the anger and violence we see from the character doesn't seem to represent the actual disposition of the man portraying him. Instead, the personality the wrestler-cum-actor demonstrates in interviews suggests that he is a kind person with a big heart – and that's an image that is very much perpetuated in a story he recently told about his new dog.

Bautista is a dog lover with a particular affection for pit bulls, and during an appearance on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon a few days ago, he shared that the most recent addition to his family came to him thanks to Millie Bobby Brown... with an assist from Chris Pratt. According to the Dune star, his Guardians of the Galaxy teammate reached out to him when he got word of Tallulah, a pet up for ado. Though his initial thought was that he couldn't take a fourth canine into his home, his heart ultimately outweighed his brain:

Chris Pratt has recently been working with Millie Bobby Brown on the upcoming film The Electric State (the movie reuniting directors Joe and Anthony Russo with Avengers: Endgame screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely), and in a weird twist of fate, that friendly relationship ended up seeing Dave Bautista with a new fuzzy buddy to love. It's a sweet little Hollywood story.

The fact that Dave Bautista has adopted Millie Bobby Brown's dog is funny enough, but the new owner also added that he first met Tallulah at an odd hour. He told Jimmy Fallon that he was overseas when the adoption talk started, and he shared the story of how the new pit bull arrived when he got home:

Dave Bautista's love for dogs is very, very real, and if you need any more proof, just watch this absolutely adorable video he posted talking about and spending time with his pets:

As noted earlier, you can now see Dave Bautista in Dune: Part Two – which topped the box office with a massive opening weekend – but do yourself a favor and don't think about what Glossu "Beast" Rabban would be like as a dog owner.

Are you ready for a brand new Dave Bautista film? Because we sure are – and this is what we know about Afterburn. 

Dave Bautista is a name I'm sure many movie lovers of the past few years have heard. The actor got his start in the entertainment industry when he was one of the stars of the WWE for many years before he transitioned into acting. 

While Bautista appeared in many roles for a few years, it wasn't until Guardians of the Galaxy that he became a household name for non-wrestling fans, and we started to see just how well the former wrestler could act. 

Now, he will be the star of a new film, Afterburn. But, who else is going to co-star with him? And what can we expect from this new film? Here is what we know so far. 

What Is The Afterburn Release Date?

As of February 2024, there is no set release date for Afterburn, which isn't that much of a surprise, because it was only just announced. 

I wouldn't expect it to appear on any 2024 movie schedule, either, because I'm not even sure when filming for the new movie is set to begin. Quite honestly, though, that's a good thing, because 2024 is filled with highly anticipated movies already – such as the upcoming Deadpool 3, the musical film Wicked, or even the next live-action Disney film, Mufasa: The Lion King. 

Maybe adding Afterburn among those big films would make it harder for it to be successful, but only time will tell when this movie officially comes out. 

Dave Bautista And Samuel L. Jackson Star

While we already confirmed that Dave Bautista will star in Afterburn, Deadline also reported in February 2024 that Samuel L. Jackson will star alongside the famous actor. Already, just having these two stars, I know that the film is going to be epic – but for those who don't know where they've seen them before, let's break them down and who they will be playing: 

Dave Bautista as Jake

Deadline reported that Dave Bautista is going to play Jake in Afterburn. The character is an ex-soldier who uses his military-honed skills when he now works as a treasure hunter. He heads into the "old world" to find valuable artifacts for his clients, who pay him handsomely. Here, we'll watch as he tries to recover the Mona Lisa. 

I already mentioned that Bautista is well-known within the WWE community and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where he played Drax for several films before leaving. But Bautista has been around in the industry for a while and appeared in many movies. 

Some of his most significant that you might have seen include House of the Rising Sun, Riddick, Spectre, Heist, Bushwick, Blade Runner 2049, Hotel Artemis, Stuber, My Spy, and more. He also had a starring role in Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead and was a part of the Dune cast, a role he'll reprise in the upcoming Dune: Part 2. He even starred in the M. Night Shyamalan film, Knock at the Cabin. 

Bautista has even worked in TV, appearing in a central role in See on Apple TV+ and guest starring in several other TV shows. 

Honestly, I can't wait to see him star in this – and I have a feeling he'll rock it. 

Samuel L. Jackson as Valentine

The other actor Deadline confirmed with the film was Samuel L. Jackson, who will play Valentine, a freedom fighter. 

If you don't know who Jackson is, I'm pretty sure you live under a rock. Along with Bautista, Jackson has strong ties to the MCU, where he's played Nick Fury for over a decade. But, other than that, the actor has appeared in several significant films. 

Some of his most known include Pulp Fiction, Coming to America, Oldboy, Jungle Fever, Jackie Brown, Django Unchained, Snakes on a Plane, Unbreakable, Kong: Skull Island, and many more. His most recent role was co-starring in the Argylle cast, a movie released in early February 2024. 

Afterburn Is A Post-Apocalyptic Film That Takes Place Ten Years After A Solar Flare

As someone who loves the best post-apocalyptic shows and the best post-apocalyptic movies, Afterburn sounds like a film that is right up my alley. 

According to Deadline, the story is set about ten years after a solar flare, a terrible natural disaster that wiped out all technology worldwide. In this film, Jake, a treasure hunter, is sent on a quest with another freedom fighter named Drea to find the Mona Lisa before a warlord gets his hands on it. 

Who exactly is Drea going to be? I'm not sure. We know that Samuel L. Jackson will play Valentine, so I don't know what kind of connection he will have to Jake. But already, I am on board for this film – and I seriously need to know when it comes out now. 

The Movie Is Based On The Comic/Graphic Novel Of The Same Name

Deadline also reported that the new film is based on the comic/graphic novel of the same name. It was written by Scott Chitwood and released in 2021, so it hasn't been long since the story was published. 

But, it's exciting to see that a film adaptation is already in the works – which usually means the source material is a lot of fun. 

J.J. Perry Will Direct

Deadline reported that J.J. Perry will helm Afterburn. The director has worked on other films such as Day Shift (as a director), but also Warrior, Cat Run, Road House 2, Murder Mystery 2, and even worked on the underrated Blue Beetle in 2023. He is also set to direct The Killers Game, another movie that stars Dave Bautista. 

Matt Johnson Wrote The Script, And Nimrod Antal Revised It

The last thing we know is that Deadline also reported that Matt Johnson wrote the script, while the revisions for the story came from Nimrod Antal. Johnson has worked on movies like Into the Blue, Inventing Adam, The Bricklayer, and more, and worked on the TV show Truth Be Told. 

Nimrod Antal has worked on several TV shows, including Servant, Wayward Pines, and one of the best shows to watch on Netflix, Stranger Things. 

Indeed, this film already sounds like it's starting to come together, and I know we'll get more information soon enough. I can already feel the stars aligning in for this – now all I need is a release date to look forward to. 

With Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 the Marvel Cinematic Universe reached the end of an era. While the final moments of the movie confirm that Star-Lord will return, the fate of the rest of the team seems far from certain. Dave Bautista has made it clear that he’s done playing Drax, which is not to say that he’s done making comic book movies, or has written off a return to the MCU.

Speaking with iO9 ahead of his performance in Dune: Part Two, Bautista reiterates that he is done playing Drax, but says he’s still open to working with Marvel in the future. He says he’s talked with Marvel Studios producers Kevin Feige and Lou D’Espoito, and they know he’s still interested, so we should write off seeing Bautista in the MCU again. He explained…

Seeing the same actor play more than one role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe isn’t something we’ve seen much of, but as the MCU continues and certain characters see their stories end, it might become more common. Bautista says he’s a fan of the superhero genre and is certainly interested in doing more in it.

While a return to Marvel is certainly possible since Dave Bautista already has a strong relationship with them, he also has a pretty good relationship with the head of DC Films. With Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn running the show, the possibility of Bautista ending up in a DC movie is also pretty good. The one thing the actor says is that if he does play a role in a superhero movie again, he’d like to play a role significantly different from what he already played. Bautista continued… 

There are certainly plenty of opportunities for Dave Bautista to join an upcoming Marvel movie or an upcoming DC movie. Fans even have some great ideas for what DC characters Dave Bautista could play. Maybe something that doesn’t require significant time in the makeup chair for Dave Bautista. The actor has admitted he didn’t love the process of becoming Drax. 

Every once in a while, a product comes along with a design that makes you wonder, "What in the hell were they thinking?" Such is the case with the infamous Dune Popcorn Bucket that went viral recently. It’s been a little over three weeks since the collective Internet attempted to stifle their laughter like school children who just heard their teacher say a naughty word. Such buzz has now prompted the Dune: Part Two cast to finally speak out about their thoughts on the NSFW popcorn tin. (Spoiler Alert: If your product involves someone suggesting that people should "just stick their hand in there!," it might be time to reconsider design choices.)

The stars of the highly anticipated sci-fi sequel join Ryan Reynolds, who hilariously nodded at the sandworm popcorn bucket while promoting Deadpool & Wolverine. The cast participated in a bit of a round-robin, sharing their thoughts in a video posted to Entertainment Tonight’s official Instagram. Josh Brolin could barely hold back laughter as he described what he’ll do if he sees anyone with the cursed bucket when he enters the theater. He explained:

There's a chance the marketing team behind the flick cringed at hearing the Thanos star say that but, honestly, it's pretty funny. Of course, Zendaya shared more practical popcorn-eating concerns. She said:

When Dave Bautista heard how his fellow Marvel alum, Josh Brolin, reacted to the bucket, the Guardians of the Galaxy veteran hilariously had a very different reaction. In his words:

Zendaya, again with the best reaction, didn't seem to think the design is all that unintentional. According to her theory, this may be the reaction marketing hoped for. She continued: 

The whole interaction between the cast regarding the bucket is honestly so funny and easily as praiseworthy as the movie's first ten minutes. You can see the entire video embedded below. 

If the marketing team did want this reaction, then they are indeed geniuses. We are all talking about it, and even Saturday Night Live made a hilarious ballad parodying the bucket (which you can watch on YouTube). Mission accomplished, marketing. Mission. Accomplished. 

Make sure you grab one of those sandworm buckets when Dune: Part 2 hits the 2024 movie schedule on Friday, March 1, because they’ll probably be collectible. Then again, if they’re a huge hit, I imagine marketing will be thinking up something similarly noteworthy if and when Dune 3 happens, which director Denis Villeneuve has some thoughts on. 

Until then, catch up with the first movie in the franchise, which is now streaming to anyone with a Max subscription or a Netflix subscription.

James Gunn completed his Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy and has now moved on to try and recreate that comic book movie success on a larger scale, by co-helming the entire DC Films universe. We know that Gunn frequently likes to work with actors he knows, so it makes one wonder if we might see the Guardians of the Galaxy actors in new roles. Dave Bautista has made it clear he would love to work with James Gunn again, and now Gunn is asking fans who they’d like to see the Drax actor play.

Gunn reposted a recent interview on Threads in which Bautista said that he loved working with Gunn, and would certainly be interested in working with him again, either inside the new DCU or anywhere else. Gunn responded by saying that he also loves working with Bautista and then giving fans the chance to cast him, and they have some great ideas I had never considered.

We know that the first movie in the DCU’s Gods and Monsters story will be Superman: Legacy, so perhaps making Bautista part of the Superman universe is the way to go. Brainiac is a major Superman villain that we’ve never seen on the big screen, and one fan suggested that the alien menace would be a great option.

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Several fans have suggested Mongul as a potential role for Bautista. He’s a massive brick wall of an alien, and so Dave Bautista would certainly fit the bill physically. He frequently battles the likes of both Superman and the Green Lanterns and we know that a Lanterns TV series is also part of the early plans for the new DCU, so Mongul would make sense as a potentially recurring villain, maybe even the “Thanos” of this first chapter of the new DC franchise. 

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Interestingly, there are not a lot of people talking about Bane. The Batman villain is one that had been mentioned a lot when talking about potential DC roles for Bautista during the previous DC universe, and we know that we’re going to have two different versions of Batman going forward, the Brave and Bold will be the DCU's upcoming Batman movie, while Matt Reeves' The Batman movies are happening at the same time, so there are two different chances for Bautista to play the role. Instead, there’s a different Batman villain who is a popular choice, Hugo Strange.

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While I had never considered Bautista as Strange, it’s a brilliant idea. Strange can still be a massive imposing figure, as Bautista is, but Strange’s real threat is his intelligence. It would give Bautista a bit more to work with as an actor, and honestly, it’s a far more interesting role for an actor who has shown he has real skill.

And then of course, there’s the big bad. Darkseid was never given a real chance to do all the things he could have done in the previous franchise, and while it seems likely James Gunn won’t be jumping right into that character now, giving his new franchise some distance from the old one, it seems likely will see him before long, and Bautista would not be a terrible choice.

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Dave Bautista and James Gunn do great work together, so seeing them work on DC projects would be amazing. We still don;t know if or when it could happen, but considering both men enjoy working together, it certainly won’t be a shock if one of these ideas actually happens.  

Dave Bautista said goodbye to Drax with the satisfying franchise conclusion Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which also marked James Gunn’s swan song for the studio after becoming co-head of DC Studios. Since Gunn is now overseeing the DCU, moviegoers have wondered if any GotG stars would follow him to other comic book features, and Bautista gave his honest take on those chances. 

Before the third Guardians of the Galaxy film premiered, Bautista was ready to move on from the dimwitted warrior for new opportunities, and opened up to Comicbook.com about a reteaming with Gunn potentially being one of those opps. The talks aren’t new as the wrestler-turned-actor seemingly teased DC conversations with the upcoming Superman: Legacy director in the past. However, it appears nothing is directly in the works with the My Spy star, which isn't to say things won't change. He stated: 

The Hollywood star’s willingness to work with Gunn again shows the strong bond the two men have formed since the former was cast as Drax. This shouldn’t be surprising after Bautista and his Guardians co-stars stood behind the Hollywood director during his brief Marvel dismissal. 

The actor was even heartbroken over choosing Army of the Dead from Zack Snyder over Gunn’s DC debut The Suicide Squad. So, there’s a sense of loyalty to the Superman: Legacy director from Bautista’s end, and he likely wouldn't go with the alternate choice if a similar situation came up. As such, maybe a new Gunn-Bautista collaboration will happen at some point.

Their reunion might take some time, though, as both men are busy with their respective careers. As the co-CEOs of DC Studios, James Gunn and Peter Safran have multiple upcoming DC films in the works, including the Superman reboot. On the TV side, Peacemaker Season 2 and its spinoff series Waller are being developed along with other upcoming DC TV series. 

However, Dave Bautista is no slouch as the actor is gearing up for Dune: Part 2, which hits theaters on March 1. The Knock at the Cabin star has other projects in the pipeline, including a My Spy sequel and his buddy cop comedy with Jason Momoa, which he willed to come together.

While there aren’t too many films scheduled from Gunn or Bautista premiering this year, multiple upcoming movies are arriving in movie cinemas this year. Come back to CinemaBlend for more movie updates.

There are cool threads that tie together the careers of Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista. Individually they are known for their on-screen charisma and massive muscles, but they were also both part of the ensemble in Dune: Part 1, co-starred in the second season of the Apple TV+ series See, and they were each considered for the role of Drax The Destroyer in Guardians of the Galaxy (Bautista landed the career-changing role while Momoa turned down the opportunity to audition). There seems to be Hollywood magic at work bringing the two men together, and that certainly only makes it more exciting that they duo are now planning to make a buddy cop movie together.

During his recent promotion tour for Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom – which took second place at the box office this past weekend – Jason Momoa spilled some of the beans about the developing project to Esquire. The former Game Of Thrones star revealed during an interview that his developing collaboration with Dave Bautista is something that was purely conjured by the Knock At The Cabin actor, and he explained how the pieces started falling together to get the project on its feet:

This is a project that has been a long time coming and, as noted by Jason Momoa, dates back to Dave Bautista manipulating the universe via social media. In August 2021, the Guardians of the Galaxy star took to his personal Twitter account (not Instagram) and wrote that he wanted to work with Momoa on a "Lethal Weapon type buddy cop movie directed by David Leitch." They ended up connecting with Jonathan Tropper to develop the script, and by November of that year, via Deadline, the project sparked a Hollywood bidding war that was ultimately won by MGM.

Things went a bit quiet after that, but we saw the project make big new moves this past summer. It was reported in August 2023 that the movie is going to be titled The Wrecking Crew, and Blue Beetle director Ángel Manuel Soto is attached to take the helm. 

Jason Momoa explains in the recent interview that what Jonathan Tropper has developed for the script is an extension of the idea that he and Bautista came up with. The Fast X villain also says that the film is going to start production following the completion of the upcoming Minecraft movie:

The traditional "buddy cop" formula is based in bringing together a pair of unlikely partners and making them work together, so it will be interesting to see how The Wrecking Crew manipulates the chemistry between Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa. They are both great at playing charming tough guys, so how will the film make it so that they clash? It could be as simple as one being a rebel and the other being a rule-follower, but we'll have to wait and see how the movie cooks.

This is clearly a very exciting development, so stay tuned here on CinemaBlend as we get more information about the film. While we wait for The Wrecking Crew to get closer to production, you can discover all of the features that are presently scheduled to be released in the next 12 months via our 2024 Movie Release Calendar.

The superhero genre continues to dominate the entertainment industry, with a number of shared universes vying for box office supremacy. Moviegoers were shook when Guardians of the Galaxy’s James Gunn was named co-CEO of the DCU, making the pivot away from Marvel and over to its main competitor. Fans are eager to see what he’s got planned for the upcoming DC movies, and which actors will populate his burgeoning franchise. And after a recent social media post, is Drax actor Dave Bautista teasing DC talks with Gunn? I really hope so, but let’s break it all down

Prior to the release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Dave Bautista seemingly said goodbye to Drax and the MCU forever. Considering the hours Bautista spent in the makeup chair over six movies and a holiday special, can you blame him? He and Gunn recently had a cute interaction on Instagram Stories, where it seems like the Dune actor might have had a meeting at DC studios. Check out below: 

Well, this definitely feels like a hopeful message. While it's possible that Bautista was merely visiting his friend and collaborator, the fact that it was at the DC offices is definitely going to inspire some fan theories about what might be happening in the future. And I'm really hoping the Drax actor pivot from Marvel to DC now that the Guardians franchise has reached its finale. 

The ending of Guardians 3 saw the cosmic team all get their happy ending, with Drax and Nebula staying on Knowhere to lead the community and take care of their newly adopted children. While the title card at the end of the movie confirmed that Peter Quill would be back, we might never see the rest of the team again. And as such, Bautista's schedule should be open for potential DC projects. 

The future of the DCU is largely a mystery, so there are a number of projects ere Bautista could seemingly pop up. The first slate of projects is titled Gods and Monsters, and includes both animated and live-action stories. We'll just have to see if the Knock at the Cabin actor actually becomes attached to a DC flick.

Since the current shared universe is nearly over and the new DCU is being formed, things are definitely in a state of flux for the studio. Only three actors from the old DCEU are set to return in Gunn's new shared universe: Viola Davis' Amanda Waller, John Cena's Peacemaker, and Xolo Maridueña and Blue Beetle. It's unclear if we'll ever see other characters again. Indeed, it seems like DC stars such as Jason Momoa might be playing new characters, so there's a lot up in the air. Still, I'm hoping Dave Bautista gets in on the fun.

The next DC movie hitting theaters is Aquaman 2 on December 20th. In the meantime, check out the 2024 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Yesterday we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company. But if there’s another name that means almost as much as Disney in the world of animation, it’s Miyazaki. Hayao Miyazaki has surpassed even Disney among some fans of animation. His brand new film The Boy and the Heron (the legendary director’s first in a decade) is sure to be a big deal when it hits theaters in December. The movie’s English voice cast has now been revealed and it’s absolutely stacked, including a two former Batman and a Black Widow.

The full English voice cast for The Boy and the Heron has been announced and THR reports that it includes numerous A-list names, including Christian Bale, Robert Pattinson, Florence Pugh, Gemma Chan, Willem Dafoe, Davie Bautista, Mark Hamill, and Dan Stevens. It’s an incredible list of performers and shows just how profile this movie is.

Young actor Luca Padovan will voice the main character Mahito Maki, and Pattinson will voice the Grey Heron. The film tells the story of a young boy whose mother dies in 1940s Japan. But when the mysterious Grey Heron tells him that his mother is still alive, and inside a magical world, the boy crosses over. 

The director of such popular anime films as Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke, Miyazaki had announced his retirement back in 2013. He made an animated short a few years later, but we thought we had seen his final feature. This makes The Boy and the Heron all the more highly anticipated as it will likely be the final feature from the 82-year-old auteur. 

The best Hayao Miyazaki movie is going to be a topic of endless debate, but anybody who knows Miyazaki's work knows he has one of the most prolific, and successful catalogs of films of any director in Japan-- in animation or otherwise. 

The movie was released in Japan in July and it broke box office records and already has received a massive outpouring of positive response from critics who have seen the Japanese version. So it seems likely that the film will be worth the wait for fans. The Boy and the Heron has been in production for years but was moving at a slow pace even before the global pandemic delayed things even further. The movie is entirely hand-drawn, yet another reason that the film has taken its time to get here.

If you’re a Miyazaki fan but one that comes from the “subs not dubs” school of viewing anime, you’re still in luck, as The Boy and the Heron release date of December 8 is a dual release . It will be available in theaters in both English and Japanese, so fans who want to experience the film in its truly original version can do so, but the movie will still be made more accessible to fans through the well-known voice cast.  

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the home of a number of franchises, but a few stand out as fan favorites. James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy is definitely in that category, and that recently came to an end with Vol. 3. The cast has been reflecting on their time in the cosmic universe, especially as it’s unclear if they’ll ever reunite again. And Drax actor Dave Bautista explained why Chris Pratt is such a great scene partner throughout the trilogy. 

Ahead of its release, Guardians 3 was one of the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movies. And Vol. 3 has stood out as a success among other box office disappointments. The cast reflected on their experience in the behind the scenes special Assembled: The Making Of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which is available with a Disney+ subscription. During that Bautista spoke about his collaboration with Pratt, saying: 

Points were made. Part of what makes the Guardians franchise so delightful is how killer the cast’s chemistry is. They all really seem to get along, and Dave Bautista has particularly liked working with Chris Pratt during their years in the MCU. Unfortunately, we might not see Drax and Star-Lord share the screen again.

It’s a good thing that Dave Bautista and the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy cast get along so well, because they’ve worked very closely over the years. In addition to the trilogy of movies there’s also the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, their work on Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, as well as the Guardians’ brief appearances in Thor: Love and Thunder. Plus the cast famously wrote James Gunn a letter in solidarity after his temporary firing by Marvel studios.

The ending of Guardians 3 separated the titular team across the galaxy, with Drax and Nebula staying on Knowhere to lead it and raise the children they rescued from the High Evolutionary. While the end title cards confirmed that Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord will be back, there’s no guarantee we’ll see everyone else. For his part, Dave Bautista seems ready to take a break from Drax’s intense makeup. 

The Guardians of the Galaxy franchise is currently streaming on Disney+. The MCU will return to theaters with The Marvels on November 10th. Be sure to check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a behemoth property, one with seemingly countless individual franchises. Those fans who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have their favorites, and James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy is definitely in that category. The trilogy recently ended with Vol. 3, offering a unique ending for characters like Gamora. The cast of the franchise clearly has great chemistry, and now you can see Karen Gillan call out Dave Bautista for laughing hysterically when he’s trying to get through Drax’s over-the-top lines. Although it doesn't seem like his fault. 

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 recently arrived on streaming for those with a Disney+ subscription, and now hardcore Marvel fans have been able to re-watch the blockbuster. Prior to the release of Guardians 3 the cast played a trivia game with CinemaBlend, revealing tidbits of insider information along the way. When asked which actor breaks character the most, Karen Gillan revealed it was definitely Dave Bautista… and explained why. See her funny comments below, courtesy of CinemaBlend’s Instagram: 

Well, she certainly didn’t hesitate. Given how much the cast of Guardians 3 has worked together throughout the trilogy, Holiday special, Avengers movies, and Thor 4 cameo, they really know each other. Gillan likely has plenty of story about Bautista breaking character because of alts given by James Gunn. And yes, there’s video proof on the blooper reel of the threequel.

In the clip, Karen Gillan explains why Dave Bautista is the Guardians cast member who ends up breaking character and laughing while filming. Namely because director James Gunn often throws crazy lines at him to say, as she put it:

Can you blame him? The Guardians movies are known for their comedic beats, with Dave Bautista’s Drax being one of the biggest scene stealers. And on top of saying the scripted lines that he learned ahead of time, the Dune actor also had to perform alts that came to James Gunn on set. Some of these lines were  just too funny to get through with a straight face. At least on the first try. 

Given the great chemistry shared by the Guardians cast and crew, fans out there are bummed that they might never all appear in those roles together again. The ending of Guardians 3 offered satisfying conclusions for the team, and only Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord is confirmed to return sometime in the future. Although I’d definitely like to see more of Nebula and Drax’s life on Knowhere with all those kids.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is streaming now on Disney+. Be sure to check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

It’s been about a week since SAG-AFTRA officially called for an actors strike, and it’s been sending additional shockwaves throughout Hollywood along with the 2023 WGA Writers Strike raging on too. But as it turns out, not every major actor is sitting things out to walk the picket line, as we’ve learned that stars such as Jenna Ortega, Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway and more have been given the go-ahead to resume work on their projects thanks to a loophole of sorts. 

On Wednesday, a list of productions were released by SAG-AFTRA that have signed an “interim agreement” with the Screen Actors Guild that allows certain productions to resume work without violating the strike order. These productions that have signed the interim agreement and are posted on the site are reportedly completely independent – meaning they are not operating under a studio contract. Currently, 45 projects are on that list. 

Among the productions that were approved are projects that star some major movie stars. Death of a Unicorn for one, is an A24 film that is set to star Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega as a father and daughter who accidentally run over a unicorn on their way home. The movie was set to start shooting in Hungary from a script by Alex Scharfman, who is also directing, and now will continue to do so. A24 is not part of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which SAG-AFTRA has been in negotiations with, therefore many of the studios productions could resume as scheduled. 

Another movie of note that's been greenlit to continue production is The Rivals of Amziah King, a crime thriller starring Matthew McConaughey, since it's being fully financed by Black Bear Pictures. Additionally, there's David Lowery’s Mother Mary, another A24 movie, where Anne Hathaway will play a fictional musician and Michaela Coel will co-star as an iconic fashion designer. The movie has been described as an “epic pop melodrama” and is being financed by A24 and Topic Studios.

Other movies set to remain in production amidst the actors strike is Owen Wilson’s action comedy Bride Hard, a movie called Dust Bunny starring Mads Mikkelsen and Sigourney Weaver, and another action comedy called The Killer’s Game with Sofia Boutella, Scott Adkins, Dave Bautista, Ben Kingsley, and Ice Cube. Additionally, the upcoming horror movie The Watchers, which is set to star Dakota Fanning and be the directorial feature debut of M. Night Shyamalan’s daughter Ishana Shyamalan, is also set to still roll cameras. 

As actors like Mandy Moore have spoken out from the picket line about not getting residuals for their work, and one report about studios trying to get AI likenesses reminded us too much of a recent Black Mirror episode, it sounds like the independent movie space is getting a chance to resume work as usual at least. Stay tuned for more updates.