Guardians of the Galaxy 3 Will Probably Be The End of Drax Says Dave Bautista

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Dave Bautista says Guardians of the Galaxy 3 will probably be the end of Drax. Though Bautista’s original claim to fame was as a WWE champion, he became well-known as a film star after playing the lovably dense Drax the Destroyer in Guardians of the Galaxy. Since then, Bautista has portrayed Drax in the sequel and appeared in two Avengers movies. He will be reprising the role for the Phase 4 film Thor: Love and Thunder before returning for Guardians of the Galaxy 3. However, Bautista's most recent role is in Zack Snyder's highly-anticipated summer blockbuster Army of the Dead.

Marvel recently released a featurette hyping its slate of Phase 4 films. In anticipation of the full reopening of theaters, the studio confirmed names and release dates for movies coming in 2022 and beyond. Guardians of the Galaxy 3’s release date is further in the future than any other Marvel film that is currently scheduled, as it will hit theaters in May of 2023. Since James Gunn’s latest space-faring adventure has yet to enter production, its plot is being kept tightly under wraps, but it will likely include these two plotlines: the search for Gamora and Rocket’s traumatic origin story.

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Gunn has reaffirmed Guardians of the Galaxy 3 will be his last in the series, and now Bautista is following suit. In an interview with Digital Spy Magazine, Bautista addressed the future of Drax. Though he has only seen a draft of a script from years ago that has likely undergone some drastic changes, Bautista says Guardians 3 is “probably going to be the end” of his character’s arc. The actor also revealed the upcoming film completes his current obligations with Marvel. Read Bautista’s full quote below:

I don't know what the script of the third film is, to be honest with you. There was a script years ago that obviously is going to have to change because the whole direction of the Marvel universe has changed. There were talks for a while about a Drax and Mantis film. It was really because it was James Gunn's idea. He really wanted to do a Drax and Mantis film. He laid it out to me. I thought it was such a brilliant idea, but I haven't heard any follow-up from the studio. I don't think they're very interested, or it doesn't fit into the way they have things mapped out. But other than that, no. I mean, as far as my obligations, I've got Guardians 3, and that's probably going to be the end of Drax.

With Gunn planning on being done with the series, Guardians of the Galaxy may be finished altogether after Vol. 3. Even if another director is brought in for a fourth movie, it sounds like Bautista is keen to move on as well. The series certainly wouldn't be the same with Gunn and Bautista gone since the director has been the main creative force behind the trilogy while Drax has provided much of its signature comic relief.

With Bautista playing a major role in Snyder's budding Army of the Dead franchise and Gunn showing he can take his talents anywhere with DC’s The Suicide Squad, both will continue to have successful careers after their tenures with the Marvel Cinematic Universe are finished. However, since Guardians of the Galaxy 3’s release date is still so far in the future, those who enjoy Drax and Bautista's performance are certainly hoping something changes between now and 2023.