Does Dave Bautista want to join James Gunn's DC Universe?

Dave Bautista's time playing Drax within the Marvel Cinematic Universe may be over, but that doesn't mean he's turned his back on other comic book characters, especially in the DC Universe.

The wrestler-turned-actor's first major movie role since leaving WWE was as Drax the Destroyer in James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy and from there he went on to star in some of the biggest franchises around such as James Bond's No Time to Die, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Dune and Blade Runner 2049.

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Both Bautista and Gunn have left Guardians of the Galaxy behind, with the latter now in charge of creating a new cinematic universe for DC Comics.

Bautista is known as a legendary figure within WWE and he was meant to be named within the Hall of Fame class of 2023 last year before a scheduling issue meant he couldn't attend the ceremony.

When asked by ComicBook.com what will come first - an induction into the WWE Hall of Fame or a reunion with Gunn, he responded:

“I couldn’t give you an honest answer to that because I think…And, I’m only gonna say this because we’ve had conversations, over the years, it would the WWE Hall of Fame. I was supposed to go in last year and I was on a film and I just couldn’t travel. I was on a film in South Africa and logistically we just couldn’t make it happen. So, you know, and I haven’t talked to James about the DC Universe.

“I would love to work with James again, whether it’s DC Universe or not. I just love James Gunn. He’s an incredible director and we have a camaraderie that’s priceless, so to work with him again? I mean I’d do it for free. But, we just haven’t had the conversations. He’s on top of DC now. He’s doing his thing. I’m trying to grind along in my processing. But, I’m always open-minded too and I’ve expressed that to him.”

READ MORE: Gears of Wars creator wants Zack Snyder and Dave Bautista for the movie adaptation

Could Bautista play Bane for DC?

Due to his massive frame and hulking stature, fans have dream-casted Batista as Batman villain Bane, previously played by Tom Hardy in The Dark Knight Rises.

But, Bautista believes he is too old for that role.

"I have had conversations with James about that but I think the direction he's leaning in, completely rebooting that whole universe, he's starting from scratch and starting younger and fresher and I think you need to do that," the former professional wrestler told Variety.