Dave Bautista Uncertain About Drax’s Future After ‘Guardians of The Galaxy Vol.3’ & Downplays Marvel’s Desire To Make Drax/Mantis Movie

You might remember that Drax actor Dave Bautista was one of the biggest defenders of director James Gunn when Disney originally fired him from Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 3 and threatened not to return as Drax if Gunn wasn’t directing the third installment. Luckily, Disney had a change of heart but at that point, James Gunn was already committed to making The Suicide Squad for Warner Bros. further delaying the Guardians sequel and leading to alterations to the existing script when he ultimately returned. 

Gunn has mentioned publicly that Guardians 3 would likely be his final installment and that could be the case for Dave’s Drax as well. The actor spoke with Digital Spy revealing that while he hasn’t read the latest incarnation of the script, he’s not expecting a big future for Drax after the third pic and downplayed the idea of a Drax/Mantis team-up movie coming together. 

BAUTISTA: “I don’t know what the script of the third film is, to be honest with you. There was a script years ago that obviously is going to have to change because the whole direction of the Marvel universe has changed.”

“There were talks for a while about a Drax and Mantis film. It was really because it was James Gunn’s idea. He really wanted to do a Drax and Mantis film. He laid it out to me. I thought it was such a brilliant idea, but I haven’t heard any follow-up from the studio. I don’t think they’re very interested, or it doesn’t fit into the way they have things mapped out. But other than that, no. I mean, as far as my obligations, I’ve got Guardians 3, and that’s probably going to be the end of Drax.”

Director James Gunn is aiming to begin production on Guardians of The Galaxy Vol.3 (working title Hot Christmas) alongside the Holiday Special in the United Kingdom (where the first film shot) before the end of the year as previously mentioned by The Hollywood Reporter back in November. Gunn has been particularly busy with the post-production of his R-rated DC Comics sequel The Suicide Squad and its spinoff HBO Max series Peacemaker (working title Scriptures) starring John Cena, which is still filming in Vancouver. 

Other upcoming projects for Bautista include co-starring with Milla Jovovich in the Geroge R.R. Martin adaptation of his fantasy novella The Lost Lands from Resident Evil filmmaker Paul W.S. Anderson and he’s expected to shoot the alien prison break flick Universe’s Most Wanted next for director Brad Peyton. 

Guardians of The Galaxy Vol.3. is officially set for release on May 5, 2023.

SOURCE: DIGITAL SPY  

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