Summary
Dave Bautista may not play his originalDCdream roles anytime soon, but there’s one character that fits him perfectly and two clear opportunities to portray him. Dave Bautista played Drax the Destroyer for nearly ten years in the MCU, first cast by James Gunn for 2014’sGuardians of the Galaxy. Since then, Dave Bautista’s acting career has skyrocketed, with notable performances in movies such asSpectre,Blade Runner 2049,Army of the Dead, andGlass Onion. Now, Bautista seems to be ready to take on another comic book role, but the two characters that interest him aren’t feasible at the moment.
Speaking toScreen Rant,Dave Bautista said he became obsessed with playing Lex Luthorin a DC project after accepting that he"felt just too old to play"Bane.James Gunn’s star-studdedSupermanhas already cast Nicholas Hoult as the DCU’s Lex Luthor, and it may take a long while for the DCU to introduce its version of Bane, who would likely be a younger version of the villain anyway. Although it’s undeniable that Dave Bautista would have played a great Lex Luthor and a great Bane, there’s still one DC villain he can embody just as faithfully in the near future.
Dave Bautista Can Play Hugo Strange In Matt Reeves’ The Batman Universe Or The DCU
Hugo Strange’s Potential Has Been Overlooked By All Previous Live-Action Batman Movies
Dave Bautista seems like the perfect casting for Dr. Hugo Strange, an evil psychiatrist obsessed with Batman in the comics. Introduced in 1940’sDetective Comics#36, Hugo Strange is one of Batman’s oldest and most intelligent enemies. Yet,Hugo Strange has barely appeared in live-action, with only one live-action portrayal — BD Wong’s inGotham. Given thatThe Batman- Part IIandThe Brave and the Boldare likely to explore overlooked parts of Gotham’s lore with characters who haven’t appeared in previous Batman movies, it’s possible that Hugo Strange will make his big-screen debut soon.
The door is wide open for both a grounded and a more fantastical Hugo Strange portrayal
Dave Bautista can play Hugo Strange in either of two DC franchises: Matt Reeves’The Batmantrilogy (and its spinoffs) and James Gunn’s DCU. Neither Reeves’The Batman - Part IInorAndy Muschietti’sThe Brave and the Boldhave a confirmed villain yet. Therefore, the door is wide open for both a grounded and a more fantastical Hugo Strange portrayal, both of which could be perfect roles for Marvel alum and close James Gunn collaborator Dave Bautista.
Why Hugo Strange Is The Best Role For Dave Bautista Right Now
Hugo Strange Can Be A More Complex DC Villain Than Bane And Lex Luthor
Hugo Strange could be an even better character for Dave Bautista than Bane and Lex Luthor. While Bane and Luthor are two particularly smart villains, Hugo Stange’s genius-level intellect is compounded by his deeply twisted mind. Strange lacks Bane’s strength and Lex Luthor’s resources, yet he deduced Batman’s secret identity all by himself and became obsessed not with beating, but withbeingthe Dark Knight.Strange’s obsessive personality provides plenty of potential for a distinguished performance at a time when Dave Bautista’s career is focusing more on his acting capabilities rather than his physicality.
The Batman 2’s Rumored Villain Creates A Problem For Robert Pattinson’s DC Hero That Would Be Difficult To Fix
The rumored antagonist for The Batman - Part II may cause a problem for the Matt Reeves sequel which would be somewhat difficult to fix.
However, Dave Bautista can also inject some physicality into the role of Hugo Strange without the need to replicate his WWE or Drax the Destroyer physique. In the comics, Hugo Strange briefly impersonates Batman in an attempt to kill him and replace him.Matt Reeves’The Batman - Part IIor Andy Muschietti’sThe Brave and the Boldcould present a version ofDC’s Hugo Strange that’s a physical threat as much as a psychological one. Dave Bautista’s acclaimed performances inBlade Runner 2049andKnock at the Cabinattest to the actor’s ability to embody this type of character.
