Former WWE superstar and Guardians of the Galaxy star Dave Bautista is looking to move away from his comedic roles and into the world of dramatic acting.
In a recent GQ profile, Bautista discussed his transition period and the ambitions he has for his future, including the desire to work with acclaimed filmmaker Denis Villeneuve.
Bautista has been portraying Drax the Destroyer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for nearly a decade, and while grateful for the role, he wants to challenge himself in different ways. “I love him,” Bautista said of Drax. “But there’s a relief [that it’s over]. It wasn’t all pleasant. It was hard playing that role. The makeup process was beating me down. And I just don’t know if I want Drax to be my legacy — it’s a silly performance, and I want to do more dramatic stuff.”
The Glass Onion star is already looking to the future, having already starred in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune and Blade Runner 2049 films. Working with Villeneuve, particularly in a leading role, is one of Bautista’s goals. “If I could be a number one [on the callsheet] with Denis, I would do it for f*****g free,” Bautista said. “I think that’s how I could find out how good I could be. He brings out the best in me. He sees me in a different light, sees the performer that I want to be. That might be how I solve the puzzle.”
The actor has already felt a shift in the way he’s being viewed among his peers, noting that Javier Bardem, his co-star in the Dune sequel, already shared a “f****g surreal” moment with Bautista that gave the Guardians star a boost in confidence about his more serious screen ambitions.
Ultimately, Bautista is looking for respect from his peers and a chance to prove himself as a serious actor. “I never wanted to be the next Rock,” he explained. “I just want to be a good f******g actor. A respected actor.” He added, “I don’t live a great big glamorous life. I live here in Tampa. I don’t care about the spotlight, I don’t care about fame. I just want to be a better actor. I want respect from my peers. I don’t need accolades — I really don’t, man. It’s about the experience, about knowing that I accomplished something.”
