James Gunn, director of Superman and co-CEO of DC Studios, recently disclosed that Dave Bautista, known for his portrayal of Drax in the Guardians of the Galaxy, was his preferred actor for the role of Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad. This casting would have seen Bautista become Chris Smith in the 2021 film, followed by appearances in two seasons of the Peacemaker series, the upcoming Superman movie, and potentially 2027’s Man of Tomorrow. However, John Cena was ultimately cast as Peacemaker.
The decision to cast Cena instead of Bautista was attributed to financial and scheduling conflicts, as Bautista was engaged with another project at the time.
Bautista Explains Why He Declined the Role
In a conversation with ComicBook.com, Bautista spoke openly about why he turned down the opportunity to join the DC Universe as Peacemaker and shared his reflections on missing out. He admitted that he truly wished to take on the part but faced unavoidable scheduling challenges. Bautista explained that the role was written with him in mind by Gunn, who is also his longtime collaborator.
I have to say, that one. I really wanted to do that part,
Bautista revealed.
[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. And so it was a scheduling issue that we just could not figure out.
Reflections on John Cena’s Portrayal
Bautista expressed admiration for Cena’s take on the character and acknowledged that the casting choice turned out well. He conceded that Cena was the perfect match for the role and believed he would not have been able to deliver the performance with the same impact and success.
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,
Bautista said.
He’s just perfect for it, you know, and I wouldn’t have done it justice, and it wouldn’t have been as successful
He further admitted,
So, look, and I am, I’m saying that with a bit of envy, you know, I would love it. 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.
Bautista’s Career Beyond the DC Universe
Since his departure from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where he portrayed Drax in several Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy films, Bautista has expanded his career with various projects. His role in Army of the Dead on Netflix marked a notable shift toward non-superhero genres, though the planned horror franchise from that project did not materialize as expected.
Despite missing the chance to join the DC Universe, Bautista remains enthusiastic about collaborating with Gunn again and is intrigued by the possibility of playing Bane, another iconic comic book character. However, he recognizes that age may now affect his ability to take on such a demanding role.
James Gunn on the Casting Decision and Future Prospects
James Gunn confirmed that he personally created the character of Peacemaker with Bautista in mind and had offered him the role. Gunn noted, however, that Bautista was receiving offers for two movies simultaneously and that the financial terms offered by DC were comparatively low, leading Bautista to choose projects that paid more.
I wrote the character of Peacemaker for him, and we offered him the role,
Gunn explained.
but he was offered two movies, and we weren’t paying him a lot, and so he had to go where the money was.
Impact of the Role and Fan Reactions
The casting of John Cena as Peacemaker has been met with positive reception, and Bautista’s honest reflections have added depth to discussions about casting and career decisions in superhero franchises. While Bautista did not join the DC Universe, his openness about the situation highlights the challenge actors face balancing passion projects with practical considerations like scheduling and compensation.
As the DC Universe continues to evolve under Gunn’s leadership, fans remain curious about potential future collaborations with Bautista and which characters he might bring to life next in the superhero genre.
