（Image Source: Pinterest, Warner Bros. Pictures）
James Gunn, co-CEO of DC Studios and showrunner for the DC series "Peacemaker," previously disclosed that when he first envisioned the character, he had a specific actor in mind: Dave Bautista, with whom he had collaborated on the "Guardians of the Galaxy" trilogy. However, it ultimately didn't work out. Recently, while promoting the second season of "Peacemaker," Gunn revisited the topic with the media but did not elaborate on the reasons for Bautista's absence from the role.
（Image Source: James Gunn Facebook）
While Gunn didn't specify the reasons, Bautista, who is currently promoting his new film "Afterburn", recently explained the true story behind it in an interview with ComicBook.com. "I have to say, that one. I really wanted to do that part," Bautista stated. "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."
（Image Source: Pinterest）
Bautista also praised John Cena, who ultimately took on the role, for his outstanding performance. He felt it was a blessing in disguise that he didn't get the part, admitting that he couldn't have played the character as well as Cena did. Bautista called Cena the "perfect choice," stating that his own portrayal wouldn't have been as effective or successful. He expressed a touch of envy, acknowledging he would have loved to play the role but couldn't have delivered the same performance as Cena, believing the outcome would have been different and not as good. "I can honestly say it wouldn't have been as good," he reiterated.