Dave Bautista, widely recognized for his role as Drax in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, identifies the 2019 film Stuber as the most underrated project in his acting career. Despite the movie’s mixed critical reception, Bautista passionately believes that the buddy cop action comedy deserves more appreciation and hopes to see a sequel. His experience working on Stuber, alongside director Michael Dowse and co-star Kumail Nanjiani, left a strong impression on him.
Bautista Champions Stuber as an Undervalued Work
Stuber, directed by Michael Dowse, teams Bautista with Kumail Nanjiani, who plays a mild-mannered Uber driver. Bautista stars as an intense police officer pursuing a dangerous suspect, forcing the unlikely duo into a high-stakes ride through Los Angeles. While the film earned moderate success at the box office and resonated well with audiences—scoring 79% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Popcornmeter—the critical response was far less favorable, with the film receiving a 43% rating.
This disconnect between audience enjoyment and critical reviews forms the basis for Bautista’s strong defense of the film. He expressed his feelings emphatically in a recent interview:
“I’ve said this, and I will go to my grave saying this. Stuber was it’s the most underrated film that I’ve ever done. I’m so proud of this film. I’m so proud of what Mike Dowse did with this film. I’m so proud of my work with Kamail Nanjiani. I’m going to pray every night and every day that this film gets a sequel because I just want to step back on set with Mike and Kamail.” – Dave Bautista, actor
Ongoing Collaboration with Director Michael Dowse
Bautista’s professional relationship with Michael Dowse continues beyond Stuber. The actor is reunited with Dowse for the upcoming film Trap House, confirming a fruitful director-actor partnership. This new project features Bautista in the role of an undercover DEA agent entwined in a dangerous cat-and-mouse scenario with his own children, who happen to be thieves.
The cast of Trap House includes several notable names such as Jack Champion, Sophia Lillis, Kate del Castillo, Tony Dalton, Whitney Peak, Inde Navarrette, Zaire Adams, Blu del Barrio, and Bobby Cannavale, alongside Bautista. The film is scheduled for release on November 14.
Drawing from his current momentum, Bautista has openly envisioned Trap House as the start of a franchise. The decision to continue the series will depend heavily on box office performance and critical reception once reviews for the film emerge.
Familiar Collaborations and Shared Screen Time
Bautista often works with familiar faces from his previous projects. For instance, Karen Gillan, his co-star in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, also featured in Stuber and is set to appear with him again in the upcoming Highlander film, which stars Henry Cavill. These recurring partnerships underline Bautista’s tendency to maintain strong working relationships within the industry.
Ensemble Cast of Stuber
Alongside Bautista and Kumail Nanjiani, Stuber included a diverse supporting cast that rounded out its action-comedy dynamic. Natalie Morales, Mira Sorvino, and martial artist Iko Uwais were notable figures, each contributing to the film’s colorful array of characters.
Potential Impact and Future Prospects
Dave Bautista’s insistence that Stuber is his most underrated film highlights how critical reception does not always align with audience enjoyment or an actor’s personal pride in their work. His enthusiasm for a sequel, coupled with continuing collaborations with Michael Dowse, suggests more projects in a similar vein may be on the horizon.
With Trap House set to debut soon, the reception it receives will likely influence whether Bautista’s vision of franchise-building comes to fruition. The actor’s passion and hope for continued collaborations indicate a strong commitment to expanding his range beyond his action-hero persona and into more nuanced roles that blend intensity with humor.
