In 2010, Dave Bautista transitioned from wrestling to acting, showcasing his ability to change and grow. He is now a full-time actor and has delivered impressive performances in popular movies like Spectre, the Dune films, and My Spy.
In an interview with GQ, Batista asserted that, while he followed a path to Hollywood similar to Dwayne Johnson and John Cena, he has no intention of emulating Dwayne Johnson. Instead, he wants to focus on being respected as an actor in his own right.
“I never wanted to be the next Rock,” Bautista said in a recent GQ interview. “I just want to be a good fucking actor. A respected actor.”
Since exiting the WWE, Bautista has starred in films such as Guardians of the Galaxy, Blade Runner 2049, Army of the Dead, and most recently, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.
“Honestly, I could give a fuck [about being a movie star],” Bautista told GQ. “I don’t live a great big glamorous life. I live here in Tampa. I don’t care about the spotlight, I don’t care about fame. I just want to be a better actor. I want respect from my peers. I don’t need accolades — I really don’t, man. It’s about the experience, about knowing that I accomplished something.”
Bautista has sought to distance himself from other wrestlers
Bautista has previously distanced himself from Johnson and Cena in past interviews. In a 2019 interview with the Tampa Bay Times, Bautista stated:
"Rock was, in a way, a movie star before he was even a movie star. There is something about him that’s really special.
"I’d never take that away from him.
"Would I consider him a great actor? F*** no," he added.
Bautisa continued: "I want good roles. I don’t care about Fast and Furious or Bumblebee. ... That’s not the kind of stardom I want ... I want to be in Dune.
"I want to work with Denis Villeneuve. I want to work with Sam Mendes and Jodie Foster.
"I want to work with Academy Award winners. I’m proud to be a character actor. I want that respect and credibility and education."
Bautista rejected a fan's suggestion on Twitter in 2021 to team up with Johnson and John Cena for an action movie. He wrote, "Nah, I'm good," and later explained that he did not want to be "lumped in" with his WWE colleagues.
Johnson has not responded to Bautista's comments over the years. However, Cena understands Bautista's perspective and does not take it personally.
"Dave has worked so hard on his craft," he told Esquire in 2021 when asked about Bautista's Twitter remarks. "I don't have any beef with Dave and I really genuinely think Dave doesn't have any beef with me. He really just wants to be identified and recognized for his work. And I cannot fault him for that. I applaud him for it."
Bautista reveals the one wrestler that actually inspired him
Bautista shared with GQ that he took early career advice from another wrestling icon-turned-actor: "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
"Before I left WWE, [Steve] pulled me aside and said, 'You’re going to get offers for horrible scripts. The money will be tempting. Don’t get caught in that trap.'
Echoing Austin's words, Bautista expresses that he has been deliberately selective about his movie projects.