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
  • TotalFilm
  • Edge
  • Newsarama
  • Retrogamer
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
Don't miss these
Chris Pratt as Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy 3
Superhero Movies Chris Pratt thinks it's "safe to say" he won't be the DCU's new Batman after trolling James Gunn with a pic of himself in the cowl
James Gunn
DC Movies James Gunn says he "originally said no" to being DC Studios CEO because he "didn't want to do what Kevin Feige does"
Yondu in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Marvel Movies Michael Rooker only landed his Guardians of the Galaxy role because he was suddenly killed off on The Walking Dead
David Corenswet as Superman fighting back flames
DC Movies James Gunn claims he doesn't "care about prestige" as he says his goal is to "affect people in a "more spiritual way"
Guardians of the Galaxy
Marvel Movies James Gunn debunks Guardians of the Galaxy rumor about Kraglin "breaking character"
David Corenswet as Superman
DC Movies James Gunn says Superman was the "hardest" movie he's ever made
Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa arguing in character in The Wrecking Crew
Action Movies Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista to fight off the Yakuza in this trailer for their over-the-top new action-comedy
Jaime Reyes holding a Scarab in Blue Beetle
DC Movies Blue Beetle director says “I don’t think that chapter has been closed” for Xolo Maridueña’s DC hero
DC Movies James Gunn once again pumps the brakes on The Flash casting rumors
Gal Gadot in Wonder Woman
DC Movies James Gunn says the DCU's upcoming Wonder Woman project is "definitely not" cancelled
Neal Adams drawing of Batman featuring his blue-and-gray costume with white eyes and a yellow circle around his bat symbol
DC Movies James Gunn defends The Flash writer set to pen the DCU's upcoming Batman movie
Chris Pratt as Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy 3
Superhero Movies Chris Pratt has pitched Marvel a "really strong vision" for Star-Lord's MCU future: "I think it's f***ing great"
Guardians of the Galaxy 3
Marvel Movies Chris Pratt says the Avengers: Doomsday trailers were "really exciting", but suggests Peter Quill won't be involved
DC Movies Scrapped Zatanna DC movie was "maybe a little too far away from the genre," director admits
Jason Momoa as Lobo in Supergirl
DC Movies Jason Momoa says his first Supergirl scene proves he was "born" to play Lobo
  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
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.
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."

You may like
  • Chris Pratt as Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy 3 Chris Pratt thinks it's "safe to say" he won't be the DCU's new Batman after trolling James Gunn with a pic of himself in the cowl
  • James Gunn James Gunn says he "originally said no" to being DC Studios CEO because he "didn't want to do what Kevin Feige does"
  • Yondu in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Michael Rooker only landed his Guardians of the Galaxy role because he was suddenly killed off on The Walking Dead

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
Chris Pratt as Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy 3
Superhero Movies Chris Pratt thinks it's "safe to say" he won't be the DCU's new Batman after trolling James Gunn with a pic of himself in the cowl
 
 
James Gunn
DC Movies James Gunn says he "originally said no" to being DC Studios CEO because he "didn't want to do what Kevin Feige does"
 
 
Yondu in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Marvel Movies Michael Rooker only landed his Guardians of the Galaxy role because he was suddenly killed off on The Walking Dead
 
 
David Corenswet as Superman fighting back flames
DC Movies James Gunn claims he doesn't "care about prestige" as he says his goal is to "affect people in a "more spiritual way"
 
 
Guardians of the Galaxy
Marvel Movies James Gunn debunks Guardians of the Galaxy rumor about Kraglin "breaking character"
 
 
David Corenswet as Superman
DC Movies James Gunn says Superman was the "hardest" movie he's ever made
 
 
Latest in DC TV Shows
Aaron Pierre as John Stewart and Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan in Lanterns.
DC TV Shows Lanterns co-creator Damon Lindelof says he was "careless" after mocking the 'Green' in Green Lantern
 
 
Hal Jordan's brownish Green Lantern uniform hanging in a closet
DC TV Shows Green Lantern legend Grant Morrison also isn't a fan of the Lanterns trailer
 
 
Aaron Pierre as John Stewart in Lanterns
DC Movies Green Lantern John Stewart is joining the cast of Man of Tomorrow as Aaron Pierre signs on for the Superman sequel
 
 
Aaron Pierre as John Stewart and Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan in Lanterns.
DC TV Shows DC fans aren't impressed with the suit in the new HBO Lanterns trailer
 
 
Hal Jordan's brownish Green Lantern uniform hanging in a closet
DC TV Shows The first trailer for DC's Lanterns has leaked and it has a surprising lack of Green Lantern in it
 
 
The Penguin episode 8 (2024)
DC TV Shows The Penguin breakout star Cristin Milioti says Sofia Falcone is "definitively not" in The Batman 2
 
 
Latest in News
The Girl approaches Grace in Resident Evil Requiem, who is hiding in a well-lit room
Resident Evil Resident Evil Requiem's terrifying stalker sounds that way because its actor "went through two jugs of milk"
 
 
Red Dead Redemption 2's Arthur Morgan falls to his death as attackers look down at him and an Elden Ring-style 'You Died' banner appears on screen
Open World Games Red Dead Redemption 2 modder creates the perfect open-world game by turning Rockstar's masterwork into Elden Ring
 
 
A sim racing rig in the passenger seat of a commercial truck
Simulation Games Truck driver replaces passenger seat with $6,000 sim driving rig, uses it while "stuck in traffic"
 
 
Ben Kingsley as Trevor Slattery and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams in Wonder Man.
Marvel TV Shows Marvel greenlights Wonder Man season 2 with Simon Williams and Trevor Slattery confirmed to return
 
 
Shocked Palworld creature looking into a box
Survival Games Palworld devs are "still bad at spending money and we're still bad at saving money"
 
 
Black cat riding in front basket of bike gets pat on the head
PC Gaming Cat Parents devs "never imagined" 100,000 wishlists in three days, but I'm surprised they're surprised
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. The Girl approaches Grace in Resident Evil Requiem, who is hiding in a well-lit room
    1
    Resident Evil Requiem's terrifying stalker sounds that way because its actor "went through two jugs of milk"
  2. 2
    Red Dead Redemption 2 modder creates the perfect open-world game by turning Rockstar's masterwork into Elden Ring
  3. 3
    Truck driver replaces passenger seat with $6,000 sim driving rig, uses it while "stuck in traffic"
  4. 4
    Marvel greenlights Wonder Man season 2 with Simon Williams and Trevor Slattery confirmed to return
  5. 5
    Cat Parents devs "never imagined" 100,000 wishlists in three days, but I'm surprised they're surprised

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
  • Accessibility Statement

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

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...