Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
Don't miss these
Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin unmasked in The Mandalorian and Grogu
Star Wars Movies Pedro Pascal wants to keep playing the Mandalorian for as long as the "many bodies we put into the suit can take it"
Invincible
Superhero Shows Invincible creator says J.K. Simmons was initially offered a different role in the hit Prime Video show
The Mandalorian and Grogu
Star Wars Movies Pedro Pascal says he originally didn't realize Jon Favreau wanted him to play The Mandalorian in the Star Wars show
Fantastic Four First Steps ending
Marvel Movies Fantastic Four star says his Avengers: Doomsday script didn't have "an ending" and it changed "quite a bit"
Karl Urban as Johnny Cage is ready to fight in the Mortal Kombat 2 trailer
Action Movies Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon says his feedback on a Johnny Cage sequel fight was "dead wrong"
Fantastic Four (2015)
Marvel Movies 2015's Fantastic Four writer says he "wasn't privy to whatever drama happened on set"
Sebastian Stan as Bucky in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
DC Movies Harvey Dent might be ripped in The Batman 2 as new video of Sebastian Stan training for his DC role hits the internet
Tom Hardy in The Dark Knight Rises
DC Movies Peacemaker and Superbad director is reportedly the top choice to direct a possible Deathstroke and Bane movie for DC
DCU Chapter One explained: James Gunn smiling.
Superhero Movies DCU Chapter One: Every movie and show in the new DC cinematic universe
Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen / Clayface
Horror Movies James Gunn seemingly answers a Clayface mystery about if we've seen him in the DCU before
Milly Alcock as Supergirl in upcoming DC movie Supergirl
Superhero Movies Upcoming DC movies and TV shows: Every DCU title coming soon
Charlie Cox as Daredevil in Daredevil: Born Again season 2
Marvel Movies Daredevil star Charlie Cox says he won't be in any Avengers movies: "Marvel have been clear with me"
Trial of the Amazons #1 cover
DC TV Shows James Gunn says that Booster Gold and the "Game of Thrones-ish" Wonder Woman-adjacent show are still happening at DC
Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin unmasked in The Mandalorian and Grogu
Star Wars Movies Pedro Pascal was as surprised as us when Lucasfilm randomly announced The Mandalorian and Grogu on social media
Creature Commandos
DC TV Shows Creature Commandos season 2: Everything we know so far about the return of James Gunn's DC show
Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Entertainment
  2. TV
  3. Action Shows
  4. DC TV Shows
  5. Peacemaker

Guardians of the Galaxy star Dave Bautista says he "really wanted" to play Peacemaker after James Gunn wrote the role for him, but he can "honestly say it wouldn't have been as good" as John Cena

News
By Molly Edwards published 19 September 2025

Dave Bautista almost played Peacemaker

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy 2
(Image credit: Disney/Marvel)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
8
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

Guardians of the Galaxy star Dave Bautista has opened up about almost playing Peacemaker in the DCU.

Bautista, who played Drax in the MCU, was the actor Gunn originally had in mind for the role, but scheduling conflicts kept Bautista away.

"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 told ComicBook.com. "And so it was a scheduling issue that we just could not figure out."

Latest Videos From
You may like
  • Tom Hardy in The Dark Knight Rises Peacemaker and Superbad director is reportedly the top choice to direct a possible Deathstroke and Bane movie for DC
  • The Mandalorian and Grogu Pedro Pascal says he originally didn't realize Jon Favreau wanted him to play The Mandalorian in the Star Wars show
  • James Gunn James Gunn plans to rewatch The Suicide Squad and Blue Beetle to decide what is DCU canon

But, Bautista doesn't have any hard feelings that the role went to John Cena. "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 added. "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."

Peacemaker season 2 is currently airing, and Gunn has teased that the remaining episodes will be huge, so much so that they've been kept pretty much under wraps. "It could mean they're terrible," Gunn joked. "That is one option. Or it could mean that there's a lot of major twists and turns in the last three episodes. And even though I'm sending the first five to a select few, things still get out as you know. Things got out already. You know, people who want to search can be spoiled on purpose, but I really don't want what's in those last three episodes to be spoiled. And so I'm keeping them close to the chest. I won't even let my publicist see them. That's the god's honest truth."

You can keep up to date with our Peacemaker season 2 release schedule, or read our verdict on the season with our Peacemaker season 2 review.

TOPICS
James Gunn HBO Max
Molly Edwards
Molly Edwards
Social Links Navigation
Senior Entertainment Writer

I'm a Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering all things film and TV for the site's Total Film section. I previously worked on the Disney magazines team at Immediate Media, and also wrote on the CBeebies, MEGA!, and Star Wars Galaxy titles after graduating with a BA in English.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
Tom Hardy in The Dark Knight Rises
DC Movies Peacemaker and Superbad director is reportedly the top choice to direct a possible Deathstroke and Bane movie for DC
 
 
The Mandalorian and Grogu
Star Wars Movies Pedro Pascal says he originally didn't realize Jon Favreau wanted him to play The Mandalorian in the Star Wars show
 
 
James Gunn
DC Movies James Gunn plans to rewatch The Suicide Squad and Blue Beetle to decide what is DCU canon
 
 
Henry Cavill
James Bond Movies 20 years after losing the role, Henry Cavill is keen to be in James Bond, but not as 007
 
 
Gal Gadot in Wonder Woman
DC Movies James Gunn says the DCU's upcoming Wonder Woman project is "definitely not" cancelled
 
 
Superman 2 concept art by Jim Lee showing Superman holding a screwdriver and buddying up to Lex Luthor, who is clad in his purple and green battle armor
DC Movies James Gunn debunks auditions for Superman foe Maxima, but Man of Tomorrow still has one uncast role
 
 
Latest in DC TV Shows
Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb, the Penguin in episode 8 of The Penguin.
DC TV Shows The Penguin season 2 feels closer than ever to happening thanks to this writer listing
 
 
A series of Justice League Unlimited RPG books and accessories on a blue background showing numerous heroes
Tabletop Gaming First official Justice League tabletop RPG in almost 20 years is on the way, co-written by comics legend Mark Waid
 
 
Aaron Pierre as John Stewart and Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan in Lanterns.
DC TV Shows James Gunn confirms Lanterns HBO release date, hours after the teaser was mysteriously pulled
 
 
Trial of the Amazons #1 cover
DC TV Shows James Gunn says that Booster Gold and the "Game of Thrones-ish" Wonder Woman-adjacent show are still happening at DC
 
 
Primer
DC TV Shows Primer comic co-creator hints that an animated series might be in the works at James Gunn’s DC Studios
 
 
Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen in James Gunn's Superman
DC TV Shows Jimmy Olsen's mystery comedy show features that haven't "been seen in the superhero genre" before
 
 
Latest in News
Invincible season 3
Animated Shows Aaron Paul is back in Invincible just months after admitting he "didn't want to" play Powerplex anymore
 
 
Assassin's Creed Black Flag
Assassin's Creed To celebrate Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, Ubisoft's buried $500,000 in the Caribbean
 
 
Call of Duty: Warzone
Call of Duty Call of Duty legend returns after losing NetEase funding with plans for a new FPS game
 
 
Chace Crawford as The Deep, Antony Starr as Homelander, and Nathan Mitchell as Black Noir in The Boys.
Superhero Shows The Boys season 5 features a shark voiced by a Marvel legend and it's probably the show's best cameo
 
 
Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano
Star Wars TV Shows Ahsoka season 2 premieres in 2027, which makes 2026 the first year without a live-action Star Wars show in 7 years
 
 
Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle in The Punisher: One Last Kill
Marvel TV Shows Marvel messes up CGI in an embarrassing Punisher: One Last Kill moment that "genuinely looks like a GTA cutscene"
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Cernan and Anders hug in Directive 8020 multiplayer.
    1
    Multiplayer in Directive 8020 explained
  2. 2
    The Boys season 5, episode 7 recap: Easter eggs, cameos, and who dies
  3. 3
    The Boys season 5 features a shark voiced by a Marvel legend and it's probably the show's best cameo
  4. 4
    Ahsoka season 2 premieres in 2027, which makes 2026 the first year without a live-action Star Wars show in 7 years
  5. 5
    Marvel messes up CGI in an embarrassing Punisher: One Last Kill moment that "genuinely looks like a GTA cutscene"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...