With filming onGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3underway, James Gunn is constantly revealing tidbits of information for fans of the franchise. During a virtual Q&A on Sunday, the director answered some burning fan questions about the much-awaited project. A lot of his followers were curious to know about the selection of Dave Bautista as Drax, and Gunn had nothing but praise for the actor.
It all began when one of Gunn’s Twitter followers asked him whether any other actors had auditioned for the role of Drax. The character first appeared in 2014’sGuardians of the Galaxy, and his quirky way of approaching any situation has been appreciated by fans for years. Bautista seems like a natural comic in Drax’s skin, and Gunn couldn’t think of anyone else to play the role. Unfortunately, the next film might beBautista’s last outing as Drax.
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Gunn revealed that hundreds of other actors had read for the role of Drax, and a “couple tested.” But, Bautista was the only actor who seemed to have gotten the character right and wasGunn’s “only choice” to play Drax. When the test screening forGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2was hosted, Gunn revealed that Drax came out as the most popular character and was even more appreciated than Baby Groot. That’s a tough competition to beat, as Baby Groot was loved for his adorableness.
Drax is sometimes unintentionally comedic, making audiences laugh with his dead-pan responses to his team’s actions or questions. One fan asked Gunn why he chose to makeDrax the comic element, to which Gunn revealed that his plan was to make all the Guardians have a “comedic and dramatic aspect.” But, the reason why people think of Drax as the funny one is all because of Bautista’s performance. “No one else who auditioned was that humorous,” Gunn wrote.
Gunn further went on to reveal one of his favorite moments with Bautista’s Drax. He agreed with a fan who seemed to love the interaction between Drax and Pom Klementieff’s Mantis inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.The scene in question involves a meaningful conversation between the two characters about their past, and then Mantis looks intoDrax’s thoughts and discovers the painhe has endured over the years. The scene is loaded with stellar performances by both actors. It would be interesting to see howGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3will affect Drax’s journey.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3is expected to premiere in theatres on July 15, 2025.
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