What happened to Dave Bautista?- The Marvel Hero Does Not Look Like Drax at All Year After His Retirement From MCU

Dave Bautista, who once rocked spandex in the wrestling ring, has since flexed his acting muscles in Hollywood, proving he’s not just all brawn but a whole lot of talent, too. But lately, eagle-eyed fans have been stirring the pot with plenty of gossip about his recent transformation.

“What in the world happened to him?” fans might ask, especially after he emerged looking nothing like his beloved Marvel character, Drax the Destroyer. 

Dave Bautista in The Killer’s Game (2024) | Credit: Lionsgate

After officially hanging up his Drax boots following the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Bautista seems to have shed more than just his MCU character; he’s dropped a ton of weight. And this has left fans drawing concern. 

Dave Bautista’s New Appearance is Worrying Fans

The WWE Universe has been doing double-takes lately, and it’s not because of Dave Bautista’s surprise wrestling match. The former World Champion, now 55, is currently making headlines not just for his blockbusters but also for his strikingly different appearance.

Bautista kicked off 2024 with a bang, starring in the blockbuster Dune: Part Two. This month, he’s been busy with two September releases: The Killer’s Game, an action-packed thriller about a hitman, and The Last Showgirl, a drama that also features Pamela Anderson and Jamie Lee Curtis. But it was the premiere of the latter at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6 that got fans talking.

Dave Bautista in Dune: Part Two | Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

In the latest red carpet snaps, Bautista looked sharp in a sleek black suit, complete with shiny shoes and sunglasses. However, it was his slimmer frame that had tongues wagging. While many fans applauded his dapper look, others were confounded by the noticeable weight loss. Some speculated whether “this is Photoshop” or if his Hollywood lifestyle had taken its toll.

Let’s check out a few comments: 

The actor, who once tipped the scales at a whopping 370 pounds, now weighs around 240 pounds (via The Mirror). Bautista admitted that shedding the pounds has been no small feat:

The heaviest I’ve ever been is 370lbs. When I started Deacon, I was about 325lbs. Throughout most of my wrestling career, I was about 290lbs. Now, I’m about 240lbs. And I went a year and a half ago for Knock at the Cabin, I went 315lbs. And that’s when the nightmare started.

After a stellar wrestling career and a stint as the formidable Drax the Destroyer in Guardians of the Galaxy, Bautista has decided to take a breather from the MCU following its third installment.

Dave Bautista’s Feelings About Parting Ways with MCU’s Drax

Dave Bautista as Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 | Credit: Marvel Studios

With the release of James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, it seemed like the MCU had finally wrapped up all the loose ends and gave everyone a picture-perfect ending. But as the final credits rolled, it left us all wondering: “What’s next?” Particularly for Drax, the mighty yet lovable green giant played by Dave Bautista. 

The actor recently opened up to THR about his mixed feelings now that he’s had some space from his iconic character:

I wouldn’t say I miss [Drax]. What I do miss is the family environment. It’s hard knowing that we will never be on set together again. Me, Chris, Zoe, Pom, Karen, Sean Gunn, James Gunn — it’s never going to happen again.

He also shared a bittersweet tidbit about his departure from the franchise, revealing that the closure wasn’t exactly wrapped up with a neat bow:

So there’s just a huge part of me that feels like there was no closure. I never really got to say goodbye to that character and that cast, and there’s always going to be some sadness involved when I start thinking about that.

It’s heartwarming to see how deep the bonds run within Guardians of the Galaxy crew, and that chemistry was evident on screen. Perhaps this emotional depth will stir Bautista to don the Drax role again in the future. After all, who doesn’t love a good comeback story?

For now, you can catch Guardians of the Galaxy films on Disney+.