Dave Bautista confirms he's finished with the MCU

In a new interview, actor Dave Bautista has shed a little light on his acting process and his goals for the future, and unfortunately, he's had to bid Drax the Destroyer farewell on that journey.

Wrapping on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Bautista announced that he would no longer play Drax or be a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and that his departure was a highly emotional moment. "Haven’t found the words yet. It ended so suddenly and I was on to my next film before I could process it all. End of a journey that changed my life," said the actor in 2022, alongside a joyful photo of himself and his castmates. Indeed, the warrior was introduced in the first Guardians of the Galaxy film in 2014, and whilst Bautista has lent his talents to other projects like Spectre, Army of the Dead and Dune, this is likely to be his most famous role in his career thus far.

Check out the trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 here:

In an interview with GQ, Bautista expressed his gratitude for his time in the MCU and how he aims to alter his image as a character actor, hoping to work with directors like his frequent collaborator Denis Villeneuve in the future. “I’m so grateful for Drax. I love him,” he responded. “But there’s a relief [that it’s over]. It wasn’t all pleasant. It was hard playing that role. The makeup process was beating me down. And I just don’t know if I want Drax to be my legacy - it’s a silly performance, and I want to do more dramatic stuff.”

However, he clarified that this shift isn't in the interest of snagging some award or bringing home the bacon. I mean, after nearly a decade as one of Marvel's top-billed employees, I don't imagine Bautista's strapped for cash. “Honestly, I could give a f*ck [about being a movie star],” he explained. “I don't care about the spotlight, I don't care about fame. I just want to be a better actor. I want respect from my peers. I don’t need accolades - I really don’t, man. It’s about the experience, about knowing that I accomplished something.”