52-year-old Dave Bautista says he's quitting 'Guardians of the Galaxy' over shirtless scenes

At 52 years previous, wrestler-turned-Marvel motion hero Dave Bautista is in higher form than most 22-year-olds. However he’s nonetheless a bit of self-conscious about his look. As a current visitor on Ellen, the Guardians of the Galaxy star confessed to the host that his alien alter ego’s aversion to shirts is likely one of the causes he’s exiting the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise after the upcoming third installment. “I’m going to be 54 years old by the time Guardians 3 comes out,” he advised DeGeneres about why he’ll not play Drax the Destroyer. “The shirtless thing is getting harder and harder for me.”

Dave Bautista flexes his acting muscles as Drax the Destroyer in 2014's 'Guardians of the Galaxy' (Photo: ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection) — Dave Bautista flexes his performing muscle tissues as Drax the Destroyer in 2014’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ (Picture: ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Assortment)

Bautista was the breakout star of the Guardians‘ inaugural 2014 adventure as well as the 2017 sequel, both of which were written and directed by James Gunn. And he’s lengthy credited Gunn with taking an opportunity on him when he was nonetheless a big-screen novice. “I struggled, I starved for three years, I could barely get a job,” he remarked in a 2018 interview. “There were a few people who believed in me along the way, but James was the one who really changed the course of my life.”

Bautista was so dedicated to Gunn that he virtually walked away from the franchise fully when Marvel fired the author/director from Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 in 2018 following the resurfacing of some controversial tweets. “I’m not okay with what’s happening to him,” the actor wrote on social media on the time, becoming a member of the remainder of the Guardians forged in signing an open letter expressing remorse in regards to the scenario. Gunn was in the end rehired in 2019, and Vol. 3 is anticipated to begin capturing later this 12 months after the discharge of his DC Comics-based film, The Suicide Squad. It’s presently scheduled to reach in theaters on Might 5, 2023 as a part of Marvel’s Section 4 lineup.

On Ellen, Bautista stated that Gunn is probably going stepping away from the MCU following the ultimate Guardians installment, and the place he goes, Drax will comply with. “We work in trilogies,” Bautista defined. “James Gunn has already announced it’s his last film, and when James is done, I’m done. The journey has come full circle and I’m just ready to step aside and wrap it up.”

From left to right: Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, Chris Pratt, Bautista and Rocket in 'Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2' (Photo: ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection) — From left to proper: Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, Chris Pratt, Bautista and Rocket in “Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2.” (Picture: ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Assortment)

Bautista isn’t carried out flexing his motion heroes muscle tissues, although. He’s presently starring in Zack Snyder’s zombie heist movie, Military of the Lifeless, which hits Netflix on Might 21. And because the chief of the film’s zombie-killing crew, he will get to maintain his shirt on. “I wanted to be the leader, it was something I chased after,” he advised Yahoo Leisure not too long ago. “But I never felt like I was the center of attention on set, because if you watch the film, you see that every character gets their moment to shine. Usually supporting character get lost in the shuffle. Zack did a great job making sure every character was highlighted, and the film is this roller coaster ride of fun. I’m super-proud of it.”