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Former Wrestler Dave Bautista is Drax in 'Guardians of the Galaxy'

by Ben Pearson
March 14, 2013
Source: THR

Since The Avengers decimated the box office last summer, Marvel Studios has been busy putting together plans for Phase II of their film adaptations. By far the most intriguing title on their upcoming slate is Guardians of the Galaxy, directed by Super and Slither helmer James Gunn, and though that movie is already set for an August 1st, 2014 release date, we haven't heard too many details about it yet. Chris Pratt ("Parks and Recreation, Zero Dark Thirty) landed the lead role of Peter Quill (aka Star-Lord), and now THR confirms former WWE wrestler Dave Bautista has made a deal to play Drax the Destroyer. More below!

Pratt's casting was totally out of left field since he hadn't been mentioned in any of the previous reports leading up to the final decision, but the same can't be said for Bautista. Though we heard "Game of Thrones" and Conan the Barbarian star Jason Momoa had received an offer for the role of Drax, Latino-Review mentioned that Bautista was also in contention around the same time. El Mayimbe now reports that Momoa and Marvel couldn't see eye to eye on a potential payday, so the studio ended up going with Bautista instead.

He'll play Drax the Destroyer, a former human killed by Thanos and resurrected as an warrior hellbent on revenge. Drax can fly, has super strength, can shoot pulse beams from his hands, and (perhaps most importantly) can sense Thanos' presence in space. Just how much emoting Bautista will have to do in this role remains to be seen, but he's certainly been a physical force to be reckoned with on screen before in The Man with the Iron Fists and The Scorpion King 3, and he'll face off against Vin Diesel in the upcoming Riddick sequel. Pairing him with a comedian like Pratt seems like an odd team, but hey: this is a group whose members include a talking raccoon and a walking tree, so "odd" seems par for the course.

Filed under Casting, Movie News

From around the web:

http://www.facebook.com/people/Christopher-Philip-Cinquegrano/100000932639147 Christopher Philip Cinquegrano

AWESOME!
http://twitter.com/MrStickHarrison Jaret Curial

I actually liked his role in The Man with the Iron Fists, he played it well.
- http://www.facebook.com/chris.groves.507 Chris Groves
  
  Came here to say the same thing. He did better than I expected and I have a feeling that Gunn will be able to get a better performance out of him than RZA did.
  - Crimson
    
    I also have faith in Gunn!
  - Josh JJB
    
    You're the man Chris!!
    - http://www.facebook.com/chris.groves.507 Chris Groves
      
      Thanks, much appreciated!
http://twitter.com/Toonfed TOONFED

Damn! i was excited with momoa's choice
Mar-vel

Not sure about this choice.
David Banner

On the "..couldn't see eye to eye on a potential payday", let me quote someone who has a 7 movie contract with Marvel: "Marvel doesn't pay shit" - Sam L. Jackson. I haven't read GoG comics, so I really don't know much about them. I did a youtube video search, found this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBGiskdYzt4
- http://www.facebook.com/chris.groves.507 Chris Groves
  
  Pretty sure Jackson did a 9 picture deal...and that was back when Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk were their only films released. One was a hit but nothing gigantic, and the other one struggled quite a bit. Now they've had multiple hits, including one of the biggest films of all time. Beyond that, EVERYONE who was in The Avengers has now been exposed to their largest audience ever and has seen their stock go up accordingly. The actors get more out of it than just the supposed "shit payday"...and considering that Jackson's 9 film deal consisted mostly of cameos and smaller roles for a while, I don't think he should be complaining too much.
  - Cody W
    
    Think its safe to say no hollywood actor should be complaining about pay
http://twitter.com/davide_coppola Davide Coppola

I always love Wrestlers, he's not exception.