Dave Bautista to retire from Drax role in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’

Actor Dave Bautista announced that he will no longer return to play his iconic role as Drax the Destroyer after the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3.

The Army of the Dead star and former WWE wrestler revealed his retirement from the Marvel Cinematic Universe film franchise in an interview on The Ellen Show, saying that he only signed up for three films, and that his age has made things “harder” for him.

“I’m going to be 54 years old by the time Guardians 3 comes out. The shirtless thing is getting harder and harder for me,” said the 52-year-old Bautista, confirming that the last Guardians film will also be his final appearance as the former Kylosian intergalactic criminal.

“We work in trilogies. James Gunn has already announced it’s his last film, and when James is done, I’m done. The journey has come full circle and I’m just ready to step aside and wrap it up,” he added.

Bautista first starred as Drax in the first Guardians of the Galaxy film in 2014 and its sequel in 2017, both directed and written by James Gunn. He also appeared in 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War and 2019’s Avengers: Endgame.

Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy 3 is slated for a May 2023 premiere.

Bautista’s latest acting project was for Zack Snyder’s Netflix zombie heist film Army of the Dead, where he played mercenary Scott Ward. He is also set to play Glossu Rabban in the upcoming Dune film in 2021, and has also signed up for Netflix’s Knives Out sequel. – Rappler.com