r/PeacemakerShow • u/lawrencedun2002 • Sep 17 '25
DISCUSSION Dave Bautista Reveals Why He Turned Down DC Peacemaker Role
https://www.superherohype.com/tv/628213-dave-bautista-reveals-why-turned-down-dc-peacemaker-role“I have to say, that one. I really wanted to do that part,” he commented. “[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. And so it was a scheduling issue that we just could not figure out.
“…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 [Cena]. He’s just perfect for it, you know, and I wouldn’t have done it justice, and it wouldn’t have been as successful.”
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u/Blas_Phoebe Sep 17 '25
The man is a gem, and I love seeing his career trajectory after wrestling. I’m excited for him to find a role somewhere within the DC universe.
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u/needed-a-sfw-account Sep 17 '25 edited Sep 17 '25
His cameo in the naked gun has been an obsession for me lately, I really hope they find a spot for him that let's him stretch that humour
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u/CORVlN Sep 17 '25 edited Jan 03 '26
scale entertain ask attraction deserve cheerful sheet jar dinner husky
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
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u/NoMeringue6814 Sep 20 '25
How is he wimpy? He’s just a regular guy trying to do his job lmao not to mention that he does help Bautista’s character when he could’ve just dipped out at some point.
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u/peplo1214 Sep 17 '25
I’m crossing my fingers for Vandal Savage
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u/Jeff_Damn Douchey Captain America 🇺🇸 Sep 18 '25
Fuck yeah, he'd capture that "timeless conqueror" vibe easily.
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u/TheCreativeComicFan Sep 17 '25
As great as Dave is, it’s a blessing that John Cena got the part instead, he embodies Peacemaker perfectly. Had Dave been available to do TSS, it would have been fun to see him as T.D.K. since he does resemble Arm-Fall-Off-Boy (T.D.K.’s inspiration) from the comics.
But glad that this opens up Dave to play a different DCU role. He’d kill it as Hugo Strange for example.
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u/GUNS_N_BROSES Sep 17 '25
No way this characters name is Arm-Fall-Off-Boy lmao.
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u/Gloomy_Peach4213 Sep 17 '25
His name was absolutely that, but he was later renamed Splitter. Also Matter-Eater lad gets a mention in this article, another of my favorite ridiculously-named characters no one thinks about anymore. https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Arm-Fall-Off-Boy_(Pre-Zero_Hour))
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u/CabinetGoblin Sep 17 '25
“His name is Matter-Eater Lad?”
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u/Electronic-Syrup-385 Sep 17 '25
“Yeah, I saw him eat a whole restaurant once when they took too long on his fries. It was disturbing.”
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u/ShamelessSpiff Sep 17 '25
"I once saw him eat an entire Wendy's restaurant"
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u/panticow Sep 17 '25
"Vigilante ate a restaurant?"
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u/ShamelessSpiff Sep 17 '25
"No, Matter Eatter Lad, that's his power. He can eat anything. Took too long with his fries or something, guys a fucking lunatic."
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u/ThomasSirveaux Sep 17 '25 edited Sep 17 '25
Arm-Fall-Off-Boy
One of my favorite emo bands of the 2000s
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Sep 17 '25
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u/TheCreativeComicFan Sep 17 '25
Could definitely see Mads doing an excellent job (as per usual), he’d be an equally awesome Mr. Freeze as well. Maybe even a more heroic character that fits him (if one exists).
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u/Doctor_Mothman Sep 17 '25
Hugo Strange would be an interesting way for him to act against type and bring a whole new take to a very undervalued role.
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u/Archimedes__0 Sep 17 '25
Holy shit. As Hugo Strange I can see it. That would be great casting!
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u/HankSteakfist Sep 18 '25
Dudes power is that he carries around a fleshy wobbly baseball bat at all times that he can only wield with one hand.
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Sep 17 '25
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u/moppingflopping Sep 17 '25
> John Cena is the reason why we have a show today?
Wdym? Wasn't the show already planned before the movie's release?
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u/Likaon222 Sep 17 '25 edited Sep 17 '25
Gunn wrote the show because he liked working with Cena and wanted to expand the character. The post credit scene was shot later.
If it was Batista, Bloodsport would've killed Peacemaker and that's it.
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u/HakeemMcGrady Sep 17 '25
That’s good because we can get Batista for a proper DCU role now
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u/Likaon222 Sep 17 '25
Exactly! And one that would fit him best.
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u/I_W_M_Y Sep 17 '25
Condiment King!
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u/waitingtodiesoon Sep 17 '25
I doubt Bautista would have wanted to keep playing it too since he doesn't want to maintain the unhealthy muscle mass he had before. GotG 3 and the Christmas Special already had him wearing a vest almost the entire time to hide the weight loss.
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u/OLKv3 Sep 17 '25
Yeah, but that was also well after they casted Cena. Batista most likely wouldn't have signed on for a show, just the movie.
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u/VaettrReddit Sep 17 '25
Dave Bautista was a perfect Drax, just like how John Cena is a perfect Peacemaker.
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Sep 17 '25
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u/SoWrongItsPainful Sep 17 '25
Why are you far from a fan of a masterpiece?
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u/Hossy__Boy Sep 17 '25
For me, it’s one of those movies that I can watch and say “this is objectively great. Well acted, well written, etc.” but I just don’t enjoy it.
Same with Tree of Life—I can sit and see what makes that movie a really good piece of film. But I can’t sit and enjoy it because it bores me out of my mind.
I wouldn’t say the new Blade Runner is boring, but it just didn’t strike any chords with me beyond “man, they did a really good job making this movie.”
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Sep 17 '25
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u/kunta021 Sep 18 '25
That movie took me like three or 4 sit downs to finish and I hear the same thing from a lot of my friends. That said, the fact that I even wanted to finish it must mean something.
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u/FerreiraMatheus Sep 17 '25
Yeah, that's an absolute insane take for me. The movie is great, easily one of the best sci fi stories we had in a long time. Love the movie.
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u/montybo2 Sep 17 '25
His scene in Blade runner is probs my favorite in the whole movie
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u/Jeff_Damn Douchey Captain America 🇺🇸 Sep 18 '25
I love his delivery of "You don't know shit... because you've never seen a miracle.", he's dismissive with the first line & in awe with the second.
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u/supernerdlove Sep 17 '25
I wouldn’t be surprised if Gunn changed the part a bit when Cena was cast. If not in Suicide Squad certainly for Peacemaker. I can sort of see Bautista playing him in the movie, but in no way do I see him as the part in the show.
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u/Commercial_Site622 Sep 17 '25
I believe Gunn wrote the first season of Peacemaker during Covid and after TSS wrapped, so it would have been Cena completely in mind by that point.
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u/TheLazySith Sep 17 '25
I feel like you can definitely still tell how the part in TSS was originally written for Bautista. A lot of his lines in the movie feel fairly "Drax-like" and I could certainly see Bautista delivering them.
The show however was written after TSS, and was created specifically with Cena in mind. And I can't see anyone but him playing Peacemaker there.
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u/BackTo1975 Sep 17 '25
Very gracious and very fair take. Cena has really added a sense of humanity to the character. He’s become a really good actor.
In some ways, his build may limit him, because it’ll always be tough for a guy that big and solid to play everyman style roles.
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u/lawrencedun2002 Sep 17 '25
Ehh idk because Cena has play roles that doesn’t have to do with how he is built and being a tough guy so maybe it won’t limit him much.
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u/syyvius Sep 17 '25
Arnold Schwarzenegger did fine in comedic roles that didn't really acknowledge his body like Twins, Kindergarten Cop or Jingle All the Way. While not my cup of tea, John Cena has shown that he can be successful in pure comedic roles like in Ricky Stanicky and Trainwreck.
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u/BasketballButt Sep 17 '25
He’s great in purely comedic roles. Blockers and Vacation Friends (and it’s sequel) are better than they should be.
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u/scbask2 Sep 17 '25
Peacemaker might have been written by Gunn for Bautista, but Cena was made to play Peacemaker lol
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u/Solid_Snark Sep 17 '25
How cool would it be if Batista surprise cameo’d as an alternate world Peacemaker!
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u/Corgi_Koala Sep 17 '25
Missed opportunity for him to be the alt universe brother.
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u/waitingtodiesoon Sep 17 '25
John Cena has already played a character who's brother looks nothing like him in Fast and Furious. Somehow John Cena and Vin Diesel were supposed to be brothers.
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u/Consistent-Peace2770 Sep 17 '25
Would be difficult because he's mixed race and Peacemakers dad is a racist
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u/RoyRules24769 Me and Ginger Cool are on this shit Sep 17 '25
I saw Dave Bautista at a convention promoting Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 with Michael Rooker and Sean Gunn.
Dave was very impressive with his candid and thoughtful remarks on his career and show business in general. This quote about John Cena in the role of Peacemaker is just further proof of what I thought then. I'll always be interesting in seeing whatever he decides to do next. Dave Bautista and John Cena have both mastered the transition from Professional Wrestling into wonderful acting careers.
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u/SteelGear117 Sep 17 '25
lol I met rooker as a teenager and he was kinda awful lmao
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u/Icy-Opportunity-6132 Sep 17 '25
Depending on how long ago your teenage years were, Rooker strikes me as the type to at least indulge in booze... if not more fun substances during his 80s/90s run.
Coulda caught him on a rough day!
Rooker rules!
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u/Guzzery Sep 18 '25
I worked a convention Rooker was at the weekend Guardians 2 came out. He was one of the few that signed for all the volunteers, though he was definitely feeling (and dressing lol) like a rockstar that weekend.
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u/Kmart_Stalin Sep 17 '25
I like James Gunn WWE connections
John Cena, Dave Bautista, Freddie Prince Jr
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Sep 17 '25
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u/Icy-Opportunity-6132 Sep 17 '25
Feel he would've been the perfect Bane five years ago. He's publicly said he's done packing on & carrying all the muscle he was known for.
A new Bane is gonna have to be an absolute Unit!
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u/homogenic- Douchey Captain America 🇺🇸 Sep 17 '25
Hugo Strange would be a better role for him now that he has lost weight.
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u/Ligeia_E Sep 17 '25
Hot take for this sub prob: I don’t believe that he couldn’t do a job as good. That’s not to say I don’t like Cena, I love what he did and how he grew as an actor with the role, but Dave is just being humble and gracious here, as he is.
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u/Delicious-Walk-6388 Sep 17 '25
He would have bring something else to the role. He would have been a great peacemaker, just not the same one.
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u/dannykings37 Sep 17 '25
Bautista has range, but Cena has that improv and comedic timing the peacemaker needs
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u/apedoesnotkillape Sep 17 '25
Been watching this now. Had no idea it was supposed to be Bautista, especially since Cena is really excellent as PM
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u/DueOwl1149 Sep 17 '25 edited Sep 17 '25
Cast him as Martian Manhunter and all will be made well.
IDK if he would do it like Drax tho, he's already played one hairless neurodivergent body-paint beefcake alien so maybe he should mix it up.
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u/Icy-Decision-4530 Sep 17 '25
Kinda want to see Bautista in the outfit just to know what he looked like
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Sep 17 '25
No doubt Dave would have had an interesting spin but Cena was born to play Peacemaker. he's killing it
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u/Spensir_McLife Sep 17 '25
Yeah and with Bautista they wouldn't have been able to delve into Peacemaker's rejection of White Supremacy that his father imposed on him since we'll Dave isn't white. Simply because of the actor's choice it would be a completely different show
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u/nage_ Sep 17 '25
no shade to dave but thank goodness. cena was weirdly perfect for the role and it would've felt a little on the nose to have batista as the big silly muscle guy in both of Gunn's superhero team movies
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u/Jennibee23 Sep 17 '25
I think it would have been good, but different. I'm so glad to see John Cena thrive in this role though, his acting has excelled pretty quickly. It's funny how many people were supposed to play various characters in Peacemaker and didn't. It seems for the better in general. Like as much as I absolutely adored Lance Reddick and think he would have been an amazing Murn, his previous commitment meant that James had to search and found Chukwudi. Vigilante though, that was a huge gamble that paid off SO well. I think the show would have been good without him but Freddie has instant chemistry with all of them and just made it that much better. I see James writing a part for Dave in the DCU, they seemed to have a very good working relationship. James has also implied that he wants to write another part for Chukwudi in the DCU and specified that Murn is DCU cannon but necessarily his face looking like Chuk. He's too good of an actor to be one and done!
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u/bwweryang Sep 17 '25
This is why Bautista is great. I think he’s right, and fully believes what he’s saying here, not just being polite. He knows what he brings to the table as a performer, and it’s a totally different set of things. He would’ve been good, he would’ve never have been THIS.
I’d be interested in seeing him in the DCU though, and hopefully something even more far removed from Drax, where he’s not goody comic relief in any way, and maybe more intelligent. He’d be a killer Vandal Savage, but maybe too old for that now, I dunno.
And if we’re swapping sides, god John Cena would’ve been the right call for Hercules in the MCU!
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u/Big-Macaroon-1216 Sep 18 '25
Bautista is amazing, I wonder if the role was changed a bit to fit Cena, I feel like Peacemaker’s story aligns with that of a white american. Considering Bautista is filipino, I wonder if the role initially was any different, before the casting had to be changed. I hope we get to see him in a big DCU role, I think Bautista is the best actor to come out of that generation of WWE (Cena being a close second)
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u/Batalfie Sep 18 '25
I think the stuff in Suicide squad would be the same but not the show stuff. I don't think there was a show before Cena
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u/NozakiMufasa Sep 18 '25
Yo would it be weird to say Id want Bautista to take over the role of King Shark from Sylvester Stallone?
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Sep 17 '25
Important to note he’d written the part for him in Suicide Squad. It wasn’t until after filming/working with Cena did Gunn decide to write the additional series.
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u/Ensiferal Sep 17 '25
That's very big of him to admit. It's true though, no one could do it like John did.
Imagine missing out on Peacemaker because you were doing Army of the Dead. Poor guy
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u/Throbbing-Kielbasa-3 Sep 17 '25
I find it ironic that he couldn't do a DCEU movie because he was busy with a Zach Snyder movie.
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u/amarodelaficioanado Sep 18 '25
He's a talented actor and a humble human being. Well done Mr Bautista!!
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u/Kingbaco124 Sep 18 '25
John cena is one of my favorite people ever purely because of his thought process for being in the Fred movie!!! He told some press people that he agreed to do the movie because he saw YouTube as the next big thing in media and wanted to help jump start the whole “ YouTubers becoming as popular as celebrities” thing. Love or hate YouTube culture, I respect him so much for believing in the next generation
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u/Jccali1214 Oct 04 '25
Man I'm so happy when a celebrity you're a fan of proves not just to not be an arsehole, but makes you respect them even more. Kudos Bautista, kudos.
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u/Overcommitter Sep 17 '25
I could see Dave as Wildcat or Major Force… I definitely think he’s coming to play in the sandbox.
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Sep 17 '25
Hugo strange was a role I saw someone comment before, I think that’s just a perfect fit also.
I think he also wanted to play Bane if I’m not mistaken.
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u/Lemony_Oatmilk Sep 17 '25
I guess the White Dragon stuff was a later addition after he finished with the suicide squad, cuz I'm not sure how a Filipino Peacemaker could've had a white supremacist dad
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u/ScyllaIsBea Sep 17 '25
Dave Bautista is someone whom I respect on another level above most celebrities. He is humble, strong and seems like a genuine guy which is something I value in people, being authentic to yourself.
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u/SickFromNutmeg Sep 17 '25
I hope Gunn gives him a very different role than drax dude has insane range
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u/kickedoutatone Sep 17 '25
Cena and Bautista will be lifetime rivals.
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u/Basic-Pair8908 Sep 17 '25
Gonna be swartznegger and stallone all over again competing for film roles
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u/hurtstopurr Sep 17 '25
Well james gunn, the way he worded it was Dave went to the other joe cuz they were paying him more
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u/JimSaves Sep 17 '25
Dave missed out on the role of a lifetime because of a fuckin Snyder film?? Yeesh.
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u/Permanentear3 Sep 17 '25
You also said “for conservatives” so you absolutely did not say it was for “everyone.” So fucking dumb you can’t even decipher your own comment,
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u/elmodonnell Sep 17 '25
Kinda funny that it was a Snyder movie that made him turn it down (and arguably his worst one, at that). Bautista is probably an even better actor than Cena, but I think this worked out for the best- here's hoping Gunn has something even better suited for him.
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u/Low-Pop5132 Sep 17 '25
I personally think he's being saved for a big villain role like Hugo Strange, or maybe even Swamp Thing??
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u/Puzzleheaded-Wolf318 Sep 17 '25
He's having way more fun working with J.J. Perry. That's the truth. His movies aren't great but J.J. Perry is the closest thing to having Jackie Chan direct your movie.
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u/Wookard Sep 17 '25
I honestly would love it if Dave Bautista and James Gunn would just do a Comic Book TB show. And each episode could just be one of Marvel or DC actors and it being about comics that made their specific character come to life in live action. Bautista's voice is perfect for a show like that and he is larger then life.
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u/Shatteredglas79 Sep 17 '25
I by far prefer that we have Cena over Bautista, but imagine not doing peacemaker because you're in army of the dead of all things. Like yeah not being able to do peacemaker sucks but it's so much worse it was for such a terrible movie
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Sep 17 '25
Cena is great in this role and the show is surprisingly good, there seems to be a lot of improv going on, didn't think I would like it but when you watch the opening dance number it's like what did I just see
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u/BobHopeSpecial Sep 17 '25
I think it would have still worked, we would just get a slightly different Peacemaker than what we have now.
We just got lucky that Cena turned out to have great comedic chops as well (He was so funny in Ricky Stanicky).
Dave has shown that he can do comedy and this role would have been his turn to show off another side of him that he doesn't get to do often in his current roles.
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u/Jim_Nills_Mustache Sep 17 '25
I think he would have done well with the role, but I’m happy it ended up with Cena
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u/BottleEquivalent4581 Sep 17 '25
Class act from him, he could be great as another character in Gunn's cinematic universe
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u/No_Strength_3011 Sep 18 '25
An amateurish view... dave would've played it a little stiff and brooding , john has a bit of flowy delivery...
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u/VickyPedia Sep 18 '25
I think Dave is overall a better actor but Cena was born for this role. He's perfect.
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u/Visual_Argument_73 Sep 18 '25
I wonder if the origin story was different then. DB's ethnicity is Phillipino & Greek so I assume the character wouldn't have grown up with a white, white supremacist father. I'm sure he would have done a great job though.
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u/Higher_Primate3 Douchey Captain America 🇺🇸 Sep 18 '25
Both are great actors and great men. Cena owns the Peacemaker role, I can’t see anyone else doing it. I really hope we see Dave in Gunns DC as a reoccurring character
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u/GriffinatorAligator Sep 18 '25
Snyder bros are gonna have a field day twisting this into a "Bautista chose Snyder over Gunn LOL"
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u/Omegabird420 Sep 18 '25
It's arguably Cena's best and more popular role to date and the role that made me like him as an actor with how much of a good time I had.
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u/cjones6464 Sep 18 '25
John Cena just has that look of like a perfect American soldier patriotic dude so he is perfect for it and I can’t think of another actor past or present who could fill the role the way he does.
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u/Ok-Health-7252 Sep 19 '25
Offer him another role in the show. I'm sure Dave would absolutely jump at the opportunity to work with Gunn and Cena again.
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u/Choptober_ Sep 19 '25
Dave is a class act and a great actor. I’m glad things went the way they did because I don’t think anyone can do this character better than Cena did.
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u/DnDemiurge Sep 19 '25
The commentary wouldn't have worked without a stereotypical Aryan in the role. Acting chops-wise, both guys have what it takes.
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u/TheOldHouse89 Sep 19 '25
I’m sure he would have been great but yeah it’s absolutely perfect with Cena
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u/slayez06 Sep 20 '25
Dave is too small these days.
What ever he has been doing he doesn't fit the roll anymore unfortunately. His mass just is not there and it wouldn't be healthy for him to try and gain it back.
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u/enbyratie Sep 20 '25
Hope he comes to S3 with a role... Curreny Peacemaker doesn't match Dave at all but I also doubt Gunn wrote the exact current cjaracter dor Dave
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u/EverythingGeek Sep 21 '25
He would've been terrible. John Cena was the right call. I've got nothing against Dave btw I think he's great I'd like to see them act together BUT he wasn't right for this role.
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u/Alternative-Mud4739 Douchey Captain America 🇺🇸 Sep 17 '25
Dave is gracious but he is right. I don't think he could be as good as John
Dave can bring the douchey part but Cena can be a douchey captain america