Netflix
Dave Bautista is having — as they call it in Hollywood — a “moment.”
Over the course of the last and next few months, the former WWE wrestler has not only put in a scene-stealing performance in Glass Onion, but he’s set to star in Knock at the Cabin, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and Dune: Part Two.
Now, after about a decade in the business, Bautista is getting the plaudits he’s long deserved as the culture has finally realized he’s seemingly always working with great (or, at the very least, interesting) directors. The last six movies in his filmography, for example, have been helmed by Denis Villeneuve, M. Night Shyamalan, James Gunn, Rian Johnson, Taika Waititi, and Zack Snyder.
Due to his recent hot streak, Bautista was given the profile treatment by GQ and certainly had some interesting things to say, including one quote that could be perceived as a direct shot at The Rock.
While discussing his career goals, the 53-year-old said he never wanted to “be the next Rock” and instead wanted to be considered “a good f***ing actor” and a “respected actor.”
Johnson, the director of Glass Onion (which is tracking to become the third biggest Netflix movie of all time), certainly seems to have that opinion of Bautista, as he said in a recent interview with The Atlantic that he’s the greatest wrestler-turned-actor of all time.
As mentioned above, Bautista will next be seen starring alongside Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Kristen Cui, Abby Quinn, and Rupert Grint (yup, Ron from Harry Potter!) in M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin, which hits theaters on February 3.
Then, in May, he’ll make his final Marvel Cinematic Universe appearance as Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3. Bautista will then cap off a career-changing 2023 by reprising his role as Glossu Rabban in Dune: Part Two, which is currently scheduled to release on November 3.
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