Dave Bautista Joins Marvel

Mixed martial artist and WWE wrestler nabs Drax role.

According to THR, Dave Bautista (‘Riddick,’ ‘The Man with the Iron Fists’) has a closed a deal to play Drax the Destroyer in the James Gunn-directed adaptation of ‘Guardians of the Galaxy.’ The 6-foot-5 wrestler-turned-actor joins ‘Parks and Recreations’ star Chris Pratt, who landed the role of Peter Quill aka Star-Lord back in February.

Drax is the alter ego of Arthur Douglas, a human, who after being killed by Thanos, was resurrected as a powerful green-skinned warrior with the sole purpose of hunting down and killing the supervillain.

The sci-fi actioner centres on Pratt’s Star-Lord, “a U.S. pilot who ends up in space in the middle of a universal conflict and goes on the run with futuristic ex-cons who have something everyone want.”

Gunn will now try and lock down actors for the roles of Groot, an extraterrestrial, sentient tree-like creature; Rocket Raccoon, a genetically engineered animal with a love of guns and explosives; and Gamora aka “The Deadliest Woman In The Universe,” the sole survivor of her humanoid alien species who was saved by Thanos to be his assassin but now battles against him.