Dave Bautista stars in the new hit Netflix movie Army of the Dead, and he took on this role instead of one in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad. Gunn wrote a part specifically for Bautista, but the two films would’ve been filming at the same time and it created a scheduling conflict. Bautista ultimately went with Army of the Dead, which was the smarter decision for a number of reasons.
Bautista got his start as a professional wrestler working for the WWE in the early 2000s, and like many wrestlers, he eventually made the transition to film acting. He’s become one of the more successful examples of wrestlers turned movie stars, joining the likes of Dwayne Johnson, Steve Austin, and Jesse Ventura. This is at least partly due to his break-out role as Drax the Destroyer in Guardians of the Galaxy, which James Gunn wrote and directed. It started their professional partnership and deep friendship, so on the surface, it seems like Bautista would’ve gone with the Gunn project instead of Army of the Dead. Bautista didn’t, however, as he saw Army of the Dead as a much better opportunity for himself, both creatively and professionally.
Unlike some wrestlers who make the transition to films, Bautista is very serious about wanting to be an actor and not just a movie star. When he was cast as Drax he took acting lessons and put in the work to make the part his own. As a former wrestler, he doesn’t get offered a ton of serious roles, so he tries to work with auteur directors whenever he can and gives himself over to them rather than taking on projects that boost his own ego and star image. This is why he’s played smaller parts in Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049 and Dune, and is thrilled to be a part of Rian Johnson’s Knives Out 2. Army of the Dead was a leading role with an emotional core to his arc; besides, Bautista wants to become a director, and he says Army of the Dead gave him a chance to shadow Zack Snyder so he could “steal his style.” Also, it let him foster a relationship with Netflix, which could pay off with both acting and directing roles down the road. It didn’t hurt that he’d be paid more as well.
It broke Bautista’s heart to turn down the role his friend had written for him, but according to Bautista James Gunn was very understanding and supportive of the decision. Gunn apparently said he was proud that his friend was at a point in his career where he could make choices like that, and was grateful to have had some part in getting him there. Bautista was one of Gunn’s most vocal supporters when Disney initially fired the director from Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3, risking his standing within the Disney money machine in order to stick up for his friend and collaborator. If Bautista could’ve done both The Suicide Squad and Army of the Dead he no doubt would have.
Bautista is quickly becoming one of the best athletes turned actors in recent memory, and that’s sure to continue as he becomes a leading man in his own right. While he might’ve turned down the chance to work with James Gunn on The Suicide Squad in order to do Army of the Dead, the deep friendship between the actor and the director means that they no doubt will find a way to work together again.
