The competition to land the role of Marvel’s Drax the Destroyer in the sci-fi/action/adventure film “Guardians of the Galaxy” was difficult. Competing for the part were actors such as Isaiah Mustafa, Patrick Wade, Jason Momoa, and mixed martial artist and WWE wrestler Dave Bautista. Momoa was a frontrunner and sure winner with the “Game of Thrones” and “Conan” behind him, but Marvel has closed the deal with Bautista to play the resurging character.
Bautista is the second actor to join the project along with Chris Pratt, who will portray lead character Peter Quill/Star-Lord. “Guardians of the Galaxy is linked to last year’s wildly popular hit “The Avengers.” The last scene in that film revealed the villainous “Mad Titan” Thanos. Thanos is Drax the Destroyer’s sworn enemy. In fact, Drax’s sole purpose is to kill Thanos. His involvement as part of the Guardians is essential.
So, who is Drax?
Drax was an Earth man named Arthur Douglas. While laying low on Earth, Thanos encounters Douglas and his wife, and fearing they have seen him, kills them both. The being known as Kronos placed Douglas’ spirit into a powerful new body. Drax’s powers include enhanced strength and resilience, flight, and the ability to project energy blasts from his hands.
Bautista certainly has the physique to play the part. He has been very busy as of late as well. He appeared in RZA’s martial arts film “The Man with the Iron Fists,” and he will next be seen in combat against Vin Diesel in “Riddick” on September 6th.
Here’s a brief storyline of the film.
U.S. pilot Peter Quill ends up in space in the middle of a universal conflict and goes on the run with futuristic ex-cons who have something everyone wants.
“Guardians of the Galaxy” will be released on August 1, 2014. The film currently stars Chris Pratt and Dave Bautista. Chris McCoy, Nicole Perlman, and James Gunn wrote the screenplay based on the Marvel Comic by the same name originally created by Gene Colan, Arnold Drake, Dan Abnett, and Andy Lanning. James Gunn directs.
Sources: Heat Vision, IMDb