James Gunn Originally Wanted Dave Bautista to Play PEACEMAKER

by

Initially, John Cena seemed an ideal fit for the Peacemaker character that it’s challenging to envision another actor filling his shoes. However, as it transpires, Director James Gunn initially wrote the role of Christopher Smith with a different superhero in mind – someone he was already familiar with. It turned out that the part was tailored specifically for Dave Bautista, a star from Gunn’s previous project, “Guardians of the Galaxy.

In an interview on The Howard Stern Show (which we initially learned about at /Film), Gunn stated that the part of Peacemaker was originally intended for Drax himself. He crafted the character with his “good friend” Dave Bautista in mind and even extended the offer to him. However, Gunn explained that Bautista declined because he had two other films in progress and wasn’t being paid well, so he opted to take roles where the compensation was better instead.

Later on, Gunn faced Cena, expressing that he had been a fan of his since the film “Trainwreck.” “I found him incredibly amusing in that movie,” shared Gunn. “That’s why I arranged a meeting with him. We hit it off immediately. Since then, we’ve worked together more than any other actor due to me directing two seasons of ‘Peacemaker,’ ‘Suicide Squad,’ and planning to collaborate on more projects in the future.

Who is the creative mind behind DCU, and it seems there will be more collaboration with John Cena? The lead of a show that apparently leads directly into your Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, you mentioned? That’s intriguing.

The concept of Dave Bautista playing Peacemaker is quite appealing. Much like John Cena, he has demonstrated his acting prowess beyond doubt, with standout performances in films such as Blade Runner 2049 and Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, further solidifying his place among the elite who have transitioned from professional wrestling to Hollywood. Bautista also shares the ability to be both humorous and intimidating, similar to Gunn’s character Christopher Smith. He would have been ideal for the role. However, given that John Cena has already embodied Peacemaker flawlessly, it’s hard to imagine him improving upon that performance.

Rather than speculating, let’s envision the potential role Bautista could assume in the DCU. With a bit more budget at our disposal, we can work towards making this vision come true.

Read More

2025-09-11 20:33