Dave Bautista Reveals The Shocking Reason He Isn't Voicing Drax On What If...?
From "WandaVision" to "Loki," Marvel Studios has yet to disappoint on Disney+. Every series it has put on the streamer has captivated fans far and wide with dazzling action, thought-provoking subthemes, and, of course, wider implications for the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, the next title on the docket — the animated "What If...?" series — promises something of a detour from the typical MCU formula. Hosted by the Watcher (Jeffrey Wright), each episode will tweak an essential element from a previous Marvel movie to see how differently their events play out.
Though "What If...?" is presented in a cartoon format, don't think for a second that it won't play with the live-action MCU's current state. The Season 1 finale of "Loki" sent the timeline into disarray, thus setting the stage for "What If...?" and allowing it to achieve canon status, according to executive producer Brad Winderbaum (via Deadline). In maintaining a sense of continuity, a bunch of MCU actors, from Hayley Atwell to Michael B. Jordan, have been enlisted to reprise their famous Marvel roles, albeit with some changes made to their characterization.
Sadly, the man behind Drax the Destroyer, Dave Bautista, won't join them on the "What If...?" cast list. Here's the surprising reason why the "Guardians of the Galaxy" favorite isn't playing a cartoon version of his cinematic alter-ego.
Bautista never got the call from Marvel Studios
One of the most anticipated episodes of "What If...?" proposes what may have happened if a young T'Challa, aka Black Panther, became Star-Lord instead of Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), thus making him the leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy. This story is notable for featuring the late Chadwick Boseman's final performance as T'Challa, but also caught the attention of one fan for not including Dave Bautista as Drax. To investigate further, they got in touch with the man himself via Twitter.
"Hey, Dave!! Why won't you be voicing Drax on #WhatIf?" wrote @PortalGOTG, and the "Army of the Dead" star left a simple, straightforward reply: "Let's start with I was never asked." Folks began to sound off with their thoughts on the situation mere moments later, creating a lengthy thread on the subject. Even James Gunn, the mastermind behind the "Guardians" franchise and DC's "The Suicide Squad," responded with a confused "What."
It's certainly disappointing to learn that Bautista wasn't even approached for "What If...?," but he's not the only actor who's handing the reigns of their character over to a voice actor. For instance, Robert Downey Jr. won't portray Iron Man to keep his retirement from the character intact, and Marvel Studios didn't bring in Tom Holland to provide the voice of Spider-Man for reasons unknown.
Surely it's nothing personal, but it's disheartening to know that Dave Bautista wasn't even approached to take part in "What If...?" by Marvel Studios. Therefore, we'll just have to wait for "The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special" and "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" for more of his take on Drax the Destroyer...if we can see him that is.