Dave Baustita's relationship with Marvel and Disney remains rocky in the wake of James Gunn's dismissal from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, but one thing that hasn't changed for the actor is the love for his character, Drax the Destroyer. Being cast as the alien warrior launched Bautista's acting career to new heights, and Avengers 4 next year will mark Bautista's fourth appearance as Drax. Bautista appreciates the character so much that he'd like for him to take the spotlight for himself someday in a movie that sheds light on his past, even if Bautista isn't in the lead role. As Bautista answered when asked what he'd like to see next for Drax:
I really wish they would tell the story of Drax's family. I think it's a beautiful story and I think it's been lost and overlooked a little bit. It's a beautiful and heartbreaking emotional thing to know where that love for his family and that heartbreak over his family being lost and murdered, where it comes from I think... I really pushed and fought for the Drax standalone film, but I don't think it's ever going to happen. I really wish they would because I think there's a story to be told there and I think the fans would really love to see that story, even if it's not me portraying Drax, I just still think it is an interesting story to tell.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe's backstory for Drax the Destroyer is significantly different than how it is in the comics, with one of the biggest changes being that Drax's wife and daughter were killed by Ronan the Accuser. Drax finally carried out vengeance against Ronan at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy, but like his comic book counterpart, he then turned his attention to eliminating Thanos, as Ronan had been carrying out the Mad Titan's orders. As Dave Bautista told MTV International, he sees potential for Marvel to put together a prequel story showing what Drax's life was like with his family and how he lost them, even if that means another actor ends up portraying Drax. However, as Bautista also noted, despite his best efforts, it's doubtful such a project will ever move forward.
Although Marvel has dipped into the prequel realm with Captain America: The First Avenger and the upcoming Captain Marvel, the franchise has yet to turn the clock back for a movie centered on a hero who has already been introduced. So chances are slim that Drax the Destroyer will ever lead his own movie, although I am curious to learn more about what his life was like when he was a family man. Marvel has released MCU tie-in comic book preludes for most of its movies before, so perhaps one day there will be an opportunity to elaborate on Drax's past on the printed page.
As far as Dave Bautista's time with Drax the Destroyer is concerned, while he will appear in Avengers 4 (meaning that he'll almost certainly be revived alongside all the other heroes Thanos dusted in Infinity War), his involvement in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has become far from guaranteed since late July. Bautista has been especially vocal about his dissatisfaction with James Gunn being fired, to the point that he said last month that if Marvel and Disney didn't use Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 script, then he'd ask to be released from his contract. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3's production is currently on hold.
Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates on Drax the Destroyer, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Dave Bautista's involvement with the MCU and more. If you're interested in learning what other movies the superhero franchise has in development, check out our Marvel movies guide.
