Rian Johnson Says Glass Onion’s Dave Bautista Is The Best Wrestler-Turned-Actor So Far

Rian Johnson is known for assembling stellar, A-list casts, but one actor stood out when he was announced for Glass Onion. Dave Bautista is a former wrestler who has made a name for himself in Hollywood.

In Men's Rights, Bautista plays a man who becomes one of the two murder victims of the movie.

Bautista stole the early moments of Blade Runner 2049 as a replicant in hiding, even though he first broke out with his role in the movie. Rian Johnson agreed with an Atlantic interviewer who said that he was the best wrestler-turned actor in the business.

"I absolutely 100 percent agree. And I think somebody like [Paul Thomas Anderson] is going to give him a real part and is gonna look like a genius. As a person, Bautista is genuinely, immediately vulnerable when you meet him, and that’s what I was excited about. This is someone who has the physical trappings of someone who would play it big, but he actually brings sensitivity to the role."

There are only three main competitors for the role of a top wrestler turned actor. Yes, he was in that film. Banks had a small part in the movie. Wrestlers from Triple H to Stone Cold have appeared in movies. We are mostly talking about The Rock, John Cena and Dave Bautista when we have this discussion.

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Are they the best of them? I think so. The Rock may be the biggest movie star, and has been the highest paid actor in Hollywood for years, but he is focused on being an action star and Bautista has a lot more range. The Rock and Bautista are both playing versions of themselves in their movies.

If The Rock is mostly focused on action, John Cena is mostly focused on action-comedy for his main roles, which is why he was cast as Peacemaker in DC's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Is it possible to do drama and depth the same way as Bautista? Even if I base most of the scene on that one, I wouldn't bet on it.

Bautista would like more. While Rian Johnson loves him and uses him well in Glass Onion, he is also playing a role that is funnier than he is. In an interview with the magazine, Bautista said that he would like to play more serious roles.

“I know it sounds weird, but that's where my passion is. If you ask me to put a label on my style of acting, I would tell you I'm a dramatic actor. I understand this the way I look physically is distracting for those types of roles. I think it's going to take someone to look outside the box. That's not the easiest thing to do, especially when, a lot of times they just won't need to. They got me over here and I look like a gorilla and I could play this part. But they got this guy over here who was a talented actor, a big name. He can play the part, but he also looks the part. It's an easy choice.

Look, at first, even I would have trouble seeing myself as, like, a romantic lead. But I want to play the part! I want the challenge. I'm a lovable guy, I can do it. There was a casting director named Sarah Finn, she cast most of the Marvel stuff. When I had gone in to audition for Drax she told me about Lee Pace, who plays Ronan. She was talking about Lee like he was the greatest thing ever. She was like, “Lee can do anything. Play any part, anything.” I want Sarah Finn to be saying that about me. I want my peers and casting directors and directors to say, Dave can do anything.”

I think that Bautista's future is still up in the air. It will have to be seen. If you don't like him, here's another video of him giving Rian Johnson his title belt.

What a person.

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