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Guardians of the Galaxy star Dave Bautista says he “really wanted” to play Peacemaker after James Gunn wrote the role for him, but he can “honestly say it wouldn’t have been as good” as John Cena

Molly Edwards

19 September 2025

Dave Bautista almost played Peacemaker

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(Image credit: Disney/Marvel)

Guardians of the Galaxy star Dave Bautista has opened up about almost playing Peacemaker in the DCU.

Bautista, who played Drax in the MCU, was the actor Gunn originally had in mind for the role, but scheduling conflicts kept Bautista away.
“I have to say, that one. I really wanted to do that part. He [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,” Bautista told ComicBook.com. “And so it was a scheduling issue that we just could not figure out.”

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James Gunn says John Cena was not his first pick for Peacemaker, but he loves the series “more than anything I’ve ever done” and has more plans for the actor after season 2

James Gunn was blown away by John Cena’s leap in acting ability in Peacemaker season 2: “This guy has gotten so much better over the past two years”

Peacemaker star John Cena says his Superman cameo was decided at the “final hour” during season 2 costume fittings: “James asked me if I wanted to be involved, and my answer was ‘Heck yes'”

But, Bautista doesn’t have any hard feelings that the role went to John Cena. “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 John. He’s just perfect for it, you know, and I wouldn’t have done it justice, and it wouldn’t have been as successful,” Bautista explained.

“So, look, and I am, I’m saying that with a bit of envy, you know, I would love it,” Bautista added. “I just wouldn’t have been able to do the same thing that John does to bring to that character. It wouldn’t have been the same. It wouldn’t have been as good. I can honestly say it wouldn’t have been as good.”
Peacemaker season 2 is currently airing, and Gunn has teased that the remaining episodes will be huge, so much so that they’ve been kept pretty much under wraps. “It could mean they’re terrible,” Gunn joked. “That is one option. Or it could mean that there’s a lot of major twists and turns in the last three episodes. And even though I’m sending the first five to a select few, things still get out as you know. Things got out already. You know, people who want to search can be spoiled on purpose, but I really don’t want what’s in those last three episodes to be spoiled. And so I’m keeping them close to the chest. I won’t even let my publicist see them. That’s the god’s honest truth.”
You can keep up to date with our Peacemaker season 2 release schedule, or read our verdict on the season with our Peacemaker season 2 review.

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Molly Edwards

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Deputy Entertainment Editor

I’m the Deputy Entertainment Editor here at GamesRadar+, 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.

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James Gunn says John Cena was not his first pick for Peacemaker, but he loves the series “more than anything I’ve ever done” and has more plans for the actor after season 2

James Gunn was blown away by John Cena’s leap in acting ability in Peacemaker season 2: “This guy has gotten so much better over the past two years”

Peacemaker star John Cena says his Superman cameo was decided at the “final hour” during season 2 costume fittings: “James asked me if I wanted to be involved, and my answer was ‘Heck yes'”

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James Gunn says Chris Pratt won’t play Batman in the DCU, but the Guardians of the Galaxy star could still play another DCU role

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