Dave Bautista: I will not return as Drax after Guardians of the Galaxy 3

Dave Bautista insists he is done with Marvel after The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3.

The former professional wrestler has carved out a hugely impressive acting career after hanging up his boots with WWE. His biggest role so far has been as Drax the Destroyer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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He has appeared in three Guardians movies and seven overall within the MCU and will make it eight when Vol.3 is released in 2023.

After that, he has no intention to return, no matter how much money is on the table.

"This is my seventh film as Drax. And my third Guardians (movie)," Bautista said on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon

"It was like our trilogy. That's kind of what we all signed up for, to do a trilogy. And I think this will be the last version of our Guardians of the Galaxy.

"We all had those perfect character arcs and such a storybook ending. I constantly relate it to the way I ended my wrestling career. I ended it on a storybook note. I would never go back and tarnish that. And it's the same with this.

"With Drax, I just got to end the perfect way. And I would never sign up for another job as Drax just to get a paycheque. I would tarnish that (perfect ending), and I won't do it."

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 trailer

Writer and director James Gunn recently said that the third Guardians movie will be the last featuring our current heroes as a group; Starlord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, Groot, Nebula and Mantis.

The primary villain of Guardians 3 will be Adam Warlock, played by Will Poulter.