The intimate dramas that have shaped and defined 2022 – ranging from The Fabelmans to Tár to The Banshees of Inisherin – much of it has added up to a riotous year that soared amid the grandeur of its own ambition but escaped the notice of the mainstream theatergoers. However, among such heavy hitters, one particular actor – Dave Bautista – passes along ambiguously, noticed by many but wanting to achieve the niche status that the partisans of the aforementioned three possess.
The Marvel actor’s road to recognition and fame began in the rings of professional wrestling, but now, it is Hollywood and its respect that he wishes to conquer, not the glamor that accompanies unasked-for and unwarranted.
Dave Bautista Wants to Be Denis Villeneuve’s Leading Man
In a recent profile interview with GQ, Dave Bautista finally let himself speak up about what exactly it is that he wishes to do in the time and place that has been given to him within the coveted walls of Hollywood. However, his reply might not be something that most seek to find or are too distracted by when they finally have it – fame and glamor. Rather, it is respect and legacy that he seeks and if one way to go about finding it is to work for free under esteemed directors, especially the likes of Denis Villeneuve, then that is what he shall do.
“If I could be a number one [on the callsheet] with Denis, I would do it for fucking free. I think that’s how I could find out how good I could be. He brings out the best in me. He sees me in a different light, sees the performer that I want to be. That might be how I solve the puzzle.”
This is not a cry for attention, however, as Bautista has some experience working with the French-Canadian auteur in films like Blade Runner 2049, Dune, and its upcoming sequel, Dune: Part II.
Dave Bautista Wants the Respect of His Hollywood Peers
Despite his incredible work ethic, Dave Bautista is hardly placed among the top roster of actors that people consider as the contemporary era’s industry greats. However, that piece of trivia still does not diminish what the former wrestler has accomplished working under name-brand directors like Zack Snyder (Army of the Dead), Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049), Rian Johnson (Glass Onion), Sam Mendes (Spectre), and Taika Waititi (What We Do in the Shadows).
Despite the actor’s resume being filled by a jaw-dropping list of films and directors, Dave Bautista still feels there is an essential aspect that’s missing from the equation and as such, his career has a long way to go, and it is only allowed to go up from here.
“I never wanted to be the next Rock. I just want to be a good fucking actor. A respected actor. Honestly, I could give a fuck [about being a movie star]… 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.”
With his mainstream fame collated from his extensive role as Drax the Destroyer in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, and the subsequent Infinity Saga films – Infinity War and Endgame, the actor is thankful that his CBM franchise arc is finally coming to an end. With that particular chapter closed, perhaps Bautista can finally find that which he has been seeking but is yet to find among the muddy and complicated waters of the industry.
Dave Bautista’s upcoming MCU film, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 premieres on 5 May 2023.
Source: GQ
