James Gunn’s Peacemaker Choice surprised many when it was revealed that John Cena, not Dave Bautista, was the original intended actor for the role of Peacemaker in the DC Universe. Bautista was James Gunn’s first pick for the character in The Suicide Squad and its spin-off series but had to decline due to conflicting schedules.
Dave Bautista’s Scheduling Conflict Prevented His Peacemaker Role
Peacemaker first appeared in the big screen DC Universe through James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, quickly gaining popularity and leading to a dedicated TV series starring John Cena. However, Gunn recently shared that he initially wrote the role with Dave Bautista in mind. Bautista spoke openly about this in an interview with ComicBook.com while promoting his new film Afterburn.
I have to say, that one. I really wanted to do that part. He (Gunn) wrote that part for me, and it was meant for me, and it just became a scheduling thing where I just couldn’t do it, because I was doing Army of the Dead,
Bautista said.
And so it was a scheduling issue that we just could not figure out.
Despite his strong desire to bring Peacemaker to life, Bautista’s commitment to Army of the Dead created an unavoidable conflict, making it impossible for him to join Gunn’s project.
Seeing John Cena’s Success Made Bautista Appreciate Missing Out
Although Bautista initially felt disappointment, he now views missing the Peacemaker role as a fortunate turn after witnessing John Cena’s performance. Bautista praised Cena’s portrayal, acknowledging that Cena brought something unique to the character that Bautista felt he could not replicate.
And 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’s just perfect for it, you know, and I wouldn’t have done it justice, and it wouldn’t have been as successful,
Bautista explained.
So, look, and I am, I’m saying that with a bit of envy, you know, I would love it,
Bautista admitted.
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.
His reflections reveal a vulnerable honesty about the challenges of inhabiting such a unique role and a respect for Cena’s success in making Peacemaker his own.
The Unique World of Afterburn: Bautista’s Current Project
While Bautista missed the chance to play Peacemaker, he has been deeply involved in another project, the action-adventure film Afterburn. This story, based on a graphic novel by Scott Chitwood and Wayne Nichols, is set in a post-apocalyptic world ten years after a solar flare destroyed electronic technology, giving rise to various tyrants and dictators controlling parts of the globe.
Director J.J. Perry and Bautista collaborated previously on Killer’s Game and reunited for Afterburn, focusing on showcasing this harsh, technology-deprived world on screen. Bautista described the challenges and fascination of exploring a reality without modern conveniences.
The biggest challenge for me, I think, also dealing with like the tone of this. You start to ask yourself a million questions about what happens when you just lose power, you lose technology. So even as we were filming, we were kind of trying to figure out those puzzles,
Bautista said.
Well, what would happen if we didn’t have this, and how would you deal with that? So it’s kind of a fun experiment to even just sit around and think about that. What would you do if you lost electricity and technology?
The filmmakers crafted a narrative that blends post-apocalyptic survival with treasure hunting, setting it apart from typical action movies. Perry shared his experience discovering the comic book origin of Afterburn and how the story’s Houston roots connected him personally.
So I didn’t even know it was a comic book until Dave brought it to me, and then I was like, I did a deep dive. I read the script a few times, and I realized, oh, it’s a comic book. Turns out the guy who wrote the comic book is from my hometown. He’s from Houston, Texas, and he called me and we just cut it up right away,
Perry said.
So getting, like Dave said, the world-building of the post-apocalyptic thing, but also the treasure hunter aspect of it, because look, I work on a lot of action movies, but this for me was more of an action adventure. It was treasure hunting, problem solving. You know, the character Jake was not a Navy SEAL or a Ranger or anything like that. He’s a badass, and a guy who could get himself in a little bit of trouble, but also badass enough to get himself out of it.
Looking Ahead: Afterburn’s Upcoming Release
Afterburn is set to hit theaters on September 19, giving Bautista an opportunity to display his versatility in a distinctly different genre. While fans may continue speculating about what could have been if Bautista had played Peacemaker, his current work demonstrates his commitment to challenging and diverse roles.
James Gunn’s Peacemaker Choice remains a fascinating story of casting decisions shaping iconic characters, but Bautista’s reflection and growth suggest that sometimes timing and circumstance define career paths as much as talent does.
