Hollywood star and former WWE wrestler Dave Bautista has stated that it was a blessing in disguise that John Cena was the one chosen to play the role of DC antihero Peacemaker.
Debuting in the 2022 movie The Suicide Squad and now in the second season of the TV spinoff show, Peacemaker has been hailed as one of Cena’s best roles in his acting career. With deadpan delivery and hilarious one liners, Cena became the star of the hit movie and is likely to reprise the role for years to come. However, in a previous interview, director James Gunn admitted that Cena was not the first choice for the role as he wanted Bautista to don the uniform and portray the DC role. With Bautista being no stranger to superhero franchises and working with James Gunn, many speculated online that The Animal would have also made the role of Peacemaker work.
When asked about the subject while speaking with Comicbook, Bautista stated that he really wanted the part and that a scheduling conflict resulted in him not being able to star in the movie and spinoff series:
“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. And so it was a scheduling issue that we just could not figure out.”
“He’s Just Perfect For It”: Dave Bautista On John Cena As Peacemaker
Continuing, the former World Champion admitted that he would have done justice to the role in the way that Cena has, admitting that if he was Peacemaker then it would not have been as good:
“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. So, look, and I am, I’m saying that with a bit of envy, you know, I would love it. 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.”
Featured image: USA Network
