Roles in Marvel’s upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy are going quickly, and the latest bit of casting information confirms that the role of Drax the Destroyer will go to WWE champion Dave Bautista.
For those who remain uninitiated to the Guardians of the Galaxy, Drax is a human who was resurrected after his death with one purpose in mind, killing the mad Titan known as Thanos. According to THR, Bautista will join Chris Pratt, who will play Star-Lord, in the upcoming James Gunn (Slither, Super) helmed Marvel film.
Dave Bautista (also known by the WWE as Batista, for those of you who are eager to correct our spelling of his name), is no stranger to heavyweight opponents, but he may have to start training harder to stand a chance against his next opponent, the dreaded Mad Titan Thanos, who made an appearance at the end of last year’s The Avengers.
Although Bautista is relatively new to the acting game, this is not his first major project. He made an appearance in last year’s The Man with the Iron Fists and can be seen later this year in Riddick.
Early word had Game of Thrones alumnus Jason Momoa poised to claim the role, but after his representatives reportedly asked to double his paycheck, it seems that Disney/Marvel called his bluff and went for the much less expensive Bautista.
If history has taught us anything, it’s that Disney/Marvel has no problem going for the other guy when big name actors ask for millions more than they are offered.
Guardians of the Galaxy will hit theaters on August 1, 2014.