Dave Bautistahastaken Hollywood by storm, taking on multiple different genres and becoming just the latest World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) alum to crossover into the world of film. While the star has tackled many different characters, one genre he has yet be to featuredin is a romantic comedy. Here, we are going to look at arguments for why Dave Bautista should star in a rom-com. We’ll cover the roles he’s most well known for, what his past experience brings to the table, as well as comparing him to his fellow WWE-Hollywood contemporaries. By the time we’re done, we’re going to see why the Animal,who holds six world championships, is deserving of participating in an award-winning rom-com.
Star Recognition
When casting for a feature rom-com, casting directors look for talent, but they also want a big name that guarantees an audience will be willing to pay to see the film. Dave Bautista carries enough star power to help carry a relatively new intellectual property (IP), as seen with his performance inKnock at the Cabin(2023). After breaking out with his performance as Drax the Destroyer inGuardians of the Galaxy(2014), Bautista would be recognized instantly. His inclusion in the remainder of the franchise as well as in bothAvengers: Infinity War(2018) andAvengers: Endgame(2019), would only cement his place in the audience’s minds. Bautista would also take turns in other popular franchises, such as appearing inBlade Runner 2049(2017)andDune(2021).
Related:Dave Bautista Hopes Knock at the Cabin Performance Earns Him Respect
Experience in Comedies
A rom-com needs a cast that is capable of making others laugh through the camera, be it with slapstick humor, comedic timing, hilarious improv, or just an overall charismatic demeanor. Dave Bautista has shown capability with all of the aforementioned traits over the course of many of his projects. While his time as Drax the Destroyer included plenty of violence, Drax was also considered one of the funniest members of the team, thanks to Bautista’s performance.
Bautista has also taken the lead in comedic films, most notably when he starred alongside Kumail Nanjiani inStuber(2019). The two would work together, with Bautista playing a detective who had just gotten laser eye surgery, leading to him having to commandeer Nanjiani for his Uber, leading the two to pursue criminals together in a hilarious movie. Continuing his work in comedic action films, Bautista would take the lead in anAmazon Prime exclusive,My Spy(2020), a film that sees Bautista blackmailed into teaching a nine-year-old girl how to be a spy.
Wrestler’s Charm
There are many WWE wrestlers who would go on to crossover into film, shockingly enough, though, only a few of them would work in the genre of romantic comedies. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, despite being in the conversation for themost successful WWE-Hollywood crossover, would star in blockbuster action films and some comedies targeted for a younger audience, but never in a true rom-com.
John Cena would initially begin his career with action films but would start to work on comedies such asTrainwreck(2015),Blockers(2018), andPlaying With Fire(2019). And while he would have some romantic moments in the television superhero comedyPeacemaker, the humor was aimed at a more crass audience and far from rom-com material. The closest one would get to a rom-com would be Mike “The Miz” Mizanin, who would work in Christmas filmsChristmas Bounty(2013) andSanta’s Little Helper(2015). Given that they were Christmas films and thus more centered around the spirit of the season, despite the romantic qualities that are interlaced through the plots.
Related:Dave Bautista Hopes Netflix Casts Him for Gears of War Movie
Some romantic comedies feature moments of sadness and rage in an effort to offset the high comedy and love that naturally permeates the genre. Dave Bautista has gotten an extensive litany of roles to match his experience in comedy, and after showing off his range, one can clearly see how this can help in whatever role he may wish to pursue in the future.
Well known for his roles as a strong warrior or a detective, Bautista has also shown his ability to play characters of morally dubious backgrounds, such as his role in Knock at the Cabin (2023), where he would play a doom-sayer, claiming that the entire world would end unless a couple commits the ultimate sacrifice. We also get glimpses of Bautista as a hardened mercenary, thanks to his role inArmy of the Dead(2021), where he would lead a team against hordes of the undead to help pull off the greatest heist they could ever dream of. We’ve also seen Bautista’s work as a man who passionately seeks his goals when he played Edo Voss in the Apple TV+ seriesSee. After getting years of work under his belt, Dave Bautista has plenty of tools to use when he eventually gets cast in a romantic comedy.
