John Cena has proven to be such a perfect Peacemaker it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role. But it turns out James Gunn originally did exactly that. The Suicide Squad director revealed he wrote the part of Christopher Smith for someone else. It was a superhero he already knew very well. Gunn created the role with Guardians of the Galaxy star Dave Bautista in mind.
During an appearance on The Howard Stern Show (we first heard about at /Film), Gunn said the role of Peacemaker was meant for Drax himself. He created the part for his “good friend” Dave Bautista. He offered him the role, too. But Gunn said he turned it down because he had “two other movies and we weren’t paying him a lot, and so he had to go where the money was.”
Gunn then turned to Cena, who he said he had been a big of since Trainwreck. “I thought he was so, so funny in that movie that I met with him,” said Gunn. “We talked. We became instant, instant friends. And then, since then, you know, I’ve worked with him more than any other actor because I’ve done two seasons of Peacemaker, Suicide Squad, and we’re gonna be doing more together.”
What’s that creative head of the DCU? You’re going to be doing more together with Cena? The star of a show you said leads “directly” into your Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow? Hmm. Interesting.
As is the idea of Dave Bautista as Peacemaker. Like John Cena, he’s more than proven himself as a great actor. In addition to his time as Drax he was especially excellent in both Blade Runner 2049 and Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films. Both him and Cena are among the very best of those who have made the move from the world of professional wrestling to Hollywood. Bautista is also funny and intimidating, just like Gunn’s Christopher Smith. He would have been great in the role. But considering John Cena is already a perfect Peacemaker, we can’t imagine him being even better.
Instead we’ll have to imagine what role in the DCU Bautista might ultimately play. We imagine there’s a little more money available now to make sure that happens.
The post James Gunn Originally Wanted Dave Bautista to Play PEACEMAKER appeared first on Nerdist.
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