What's Inside?
- Dave Bautista admitted James Gunn originally wrote 'Peacemaker' for him, but Army of the Dead commitments forced him to decline.
- Bautista called missing the role a “blessing in disguise,” crediting John Cena as the perfect actor to bring 'Peacemaker' to life.
- The former WWE star still hopes to join the DC Universe, regularly checking in with James Gunn and Peter Safran for future roles.
In another corner of Hollywood’s multiverse, it could have been Dave Bautista suiting up as Christopher Smith, better known as Peacemaker. The Guardians of the Galaxy star was the first choice of James Gunn when he penned The Suicide Squad. Yet, fate— and of course, scheduling— shifted the role to John Cena, whose performance has since become one of the defining portrayals in DC’s television universe.
Dave Bautista Explains Why He Passed on James Gunn’s Peacemaker Offer
James Gunn, now co-head of DC Studios, revealed on The Howard Stern Show that he wrote Peacemaker specifically for Bautista. The two share a long creative history, with Dave Bautista famously playing Drax in Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy in the MCU. But when The Suicide Squad was ready to roll, Bautista was already locked into Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead.
“I have to say, that one. I really wanted to do that part,” Bautista admitted in a recent interview with ComicBook.com.
“[Gunn] wrote that part for me, and it was meant for me. It just became a scheduling thing where I just couldn’t do it, because I was doing Army of the Dead. And so it was a scheduling issue that we just could not figure out.”
As painful as it was to decline, Bautista now believes the decision played out exactly as it should have. “I think it was great. It was a blessing in disguise that I didn’t do that, because I have to say, I have to be honest, there’s no way that I would have been able to do that role like John,” he said.
Further, Bautista openly acknowledged John Cena’s superiority in the role: “He’s just perfect for it, you know, and I wouldn’t have done it justice, and it wouldn’t have been as successful.”
John Cena’s Rise as Peacemaker and Bautista’s Future in the DCU
Since Cena took over the mantle, Peacemaker has grown into one of DC’s strongest properties. The second season is currently streaming on HBO Max, proving that what seemed like a risky spin-off has blossomed into a cornerstone of Gunn’s DC storytelling. Cena’s mix of comic timing and surprising emotional depth has made it nearly impossible to imagine anyone else in the role.
Still, the Bautista connection lingers. Fans can’t help but speculate about what other DC roles might be waiting for him. The actor has confirmed he regularly checks in with Gunn and Peter Safran to see if there’s a spot for him in the new DCU. “I haven’t. You know, I check back with them all the time to see, because I want to be in that world,” Bautista shared with Screen Rant.
“I was hoping a year or so ago that I would’ve gotten the call from James saying, ‘Hey man, we got something for you.’”
If Gunn’s track record with Bautista is anything to go by, it seems only a matter of time before the actor’s imposing presence and understated humor find a home in DC Studios’ slate. After all, Gunn has already brought over several Marvel alumni, and Bautista’s name remains high on fan-casting lists for darker, more complex roles.
The irony, of course, is that Bautista’s decision to honor his Army of the Dead commitment not only preserved his integrity but also allowed Cena to cement his legacy. “I’m saying that with a bit of envy, you know, I would love it,” Bautista confessed.
“I just wouldn’t have been able to do the same thing that John does to bring to that character. It wouldn’t have been the same. It wouldn’t have been as good. I can honestly say it wouldn’t have been as good.”
Regardless, it was certainly a blessing in disguise. Cena has nailed the role, adding an astonishing fanbase to the DC show.
Peacemaker season 2 is now streaming on HBO Max.
