James Gunn responds to Dave Bautista saying he'll retire as Drax after Guardians of the Galaxy 3

Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy 2
(Image credit: Disney/Marvel)

James Gunn has responded to Dave Bautista saying he won't play Drax after Guardians of the Galaxy 3.

Bautista wrote on Twitter: "Drax isn't going anywhere. He just won't be played by this dude! by the time G3 comes out I'll be 54 yrs old for gods sake! im expecting everything to start sagging any second now."

Gunn then retweeted him, adding: "There's no Drax for me without you, buddy! You ARE the MCU's Drax the Destroyer and, as far as I'm concerned, could never be replaced. And you have the right to do whatever you want with your acting choices!"

Bautista has played Drax in the Gunn directed Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, as well as Avengers: Infinity War and its sequel Endgame. Guardians of the Galaxy 3 is slated for a 2023 release.

The Drax actor has recently talked about why he chose a starring role in Zack Snyder's upcoming Netflix movie Army of the Dead over a part in Gunn's The Suicide Squad. "I had The Suicide Squad where I got to work with my boy again, even though it's a smaller role, and then I had Army of the Dead on which I get to work with Zack, I get to build a relationship with Netflix, I get a lead role in a great film – and I get paid a lot more money," Bautista explained. 

He added that Gunn was supportive of his choice: "He said, 'I completely get it. I'm proud of you that you're even in this position. I'm proud that I had something to do with you being in this position where you have to make these hard decisions.'"

Gunn has also recently said he's "planning on [Guardians 3] to be [his] last," but did answer a fan asking about a potential fourth film on Twitter with: "Me? Never say never but I see Vol 3 as the end of the Guardians' story I started telling back with Vol 1."

Guardians of the Galaxy 3 arrives May 5, 2023, and the next Marvel project to hit our screens will be Loki, landing June 9. In the meantime, check out how to watch Marvel movies in order to get up to speed, and find the best Disney Plus prices and deals.

Molly Edwards
Senior Entertainment Writer

I'm a Senior Entertainment Writer here at 12DOVE, covering all things film and TV for the site's Total Film and SFX sections. 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. 

Read more
Guardians of the Galaxy 3
Dave Bautista wants to be in both DC and Marvel's futures, but rules out a Drax return in the new Avengers movie: "The character ran its course"
Guardians of the Galaxy 3
James Gunn weighs in on a potential deep-cut Avengers: Endgame and Guardians of the Galaxy plot hole
Knock at the Cabin
Dave Bautista says he has been "badgering" Netflix to hurry up with its Gears of Wars movie: "Come on Netflix, get it together"
Guardians of the Galaxy 3
Marvel star Vin Diesel might be teasing a Groot movie: "Disney wants their Planet X!"
Dave Bautista in Dune
Dave Bautista is starring in a dystopian alien invasion thriller from the John Wick team
Will Poulter as Adam Warlock in Guardians of the Galaxy 3
Superman will "sort of" have a post-credits scene but it won't be similar to the "pain in the ass" story setup that James Gunn still regrets from Guardians of the Galaxy 2
Latest in Superhero Movies
Batman and Catwoman talking
Robert Pattinson is hoping to team up with his The Batman co-star Zoe Kravitz on another project soon
The cast of Thunderbolts
Thunderbolts director says the new Marvel movie is inspired by Toy Story 3: "Can they get out of the trash can together?"
Robert Downey Jr announces his Doctor Doom casting at San Diego Comic-Con 2024
"He is so dialed in": Robert Downey Jr. is coming up with backstory and costume ideas for Doctor Doom ahead of Avengers: Doomsday
Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne in The Batman
Robert Pattinson worries he will be a "f*cking old Batman" by the time filming on The Batman 2 finally starts
Lewis Pullman as "Bob" in Thunderbolts
The first look at Thunderbolts' Sentry suit seemingly leaked in new Marvel merchandise
Spider-Man: No Way Home
This is why fans think Spider-Man will become the MCU's most important character after Avengers: Doomsday
Latest in News
Jack Quaid in Novocaine
The Boys star Jack Quaid's commitment to the bit is unmatched as his latest marketing stunt for upcoming action movie Novocaine goes viral
Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again had Disney Plus' biggest premiere of 2025, but its viewership is lower than Agatha All Along and The Acolyte
True Detective
Matthew McConaughey still thinks his own season of True Detective is the best one: "It was one of the great events in TV"
Diego Luna in Andor season 2
Andor season 2 showrunner Tony Gilroy calls Cassian “Star Wars Jesus” ahead of the show’s return on Disney Plus
Fortnite's Lara croft skin in front of a building
Fortnite has had Tomb Raider's Lara Croft locked away in battle pass exclusivity jail for almost 4 years, but she's reportedly getting a new skin very soon
Mind Rot card art (showing a human screaming in agony) with two meme Spongebob Squarepants Secret Lair cards laid over top
MTG's meme-filled Spongebob Secret Lair is enough to kill the average player from the 1990s