The DCU future of one iconic supervillain seems bright after Dave Bautista's recent comments concerning his tenure as Drax the Destroyer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The former wrestler turned action star has been quite vocal in recent years regarding his impending exit from the MCU following the release of Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 this coming May. While Bautista asserts that he is aiming for more dramatic roles to bolster his career in the near future, there is one character in James Gunn's emerging DC shared universe that the actor would be perfect for Bautista to play after Drax.
Following 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy, Dave Bautista has become the best ex-wrestler actor working in Hollywood today. Alongside his portrayal of Drax in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Bautista cemented himself into the ground level of several up-and-coming franchises, including Army of the Dead and Dune, each of which proved his range beyond what the normally comedic character of Drax allows. Bautista's more recent roles in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and M. Night Shyamalan's thriller A Knock on the Cabin are sure to bolster the actor's career moving forward. However, even as he inches away from the MCU, Bautista doesn't have to abandon comic book movies altogether.
Bautista's MCU Exit Means He Can Finally Play Bane In The DCU
There is no denying that Dave Bautista is the perfect choice for Bane, one of Batman's most intimidating nemeses, who was previously portrayed by Tom Hardy in The Dark Knight Rises. The actor has been the subject of many fan castings for the supervillain, but because of his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it seemed unlikely that such aspirations would ever come to fruition. However, after Bautista's confirmation that Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 will be his last outing as Drax and recent news that the DCEU will undergo a reboot, it is finally possible for the actor to bring Bane to life in DC's new cinematic universe.
Rumors of Bautista's casting as Bane only deepen as a result of James Gunn's new DCU plan, which will see the Guardians of the Galaxy director take full creative control over the cinematic universe. James Gunn and Dave Bautista have developed a well-known friendship over their years working together, with Bautista acting as one of Gunn's most outspoken ers when he was initially fired by Marvel in 2018. Because of their closeness, Bautista already has a foot in the door when it comes to being cast in the DCU, especially given Gunn's proclivity to include his friends and family in each of his projects.
Bane Is The Perfect Villain For Batman's First DCU Film
While it is unclear exactly how much of the DCEU will be rebooted, Batman seems like a chief character to experience a revamp for the DCU. Gunn faces a profound problem with Batman, however, struggling to make this new version stand out among the many other live-action iterations of the iconic character. Bane is the perfect villain to help do this, not because he hasn't been utilized before, but because he has. Despite appearing in Batman and Robin and The Dark Knight Rises, Bane has never been accurately portrayed in live-action, and Gunn's new Batman reboot could finally give fans the adaptation they have wanted to see portrayed for decades.
Furthermore, Bane is an ideal villain for the new Batman's first outing in James Gunn's burgeoning franchise. Not only could the DCU finally break Bane free from the henchman trope that he has always filled in live-action, but the franchise can also use the supervillain as a way to open Gotham up to more surreal villains from the comics. While very powerful, Bane is relatively grounded as a villain, making a great first enemy for the Dark Knight to face before leaning into more absurd comic characters as the franchise continues. If done right, Bautista's Bane could signal a very bright future for the DCU's new Batman.
