Dave Bautista has been thrown around as a name for the DC Universe's next iteration of Bane. According to Bautista, he does not fit into James Gunn's vision for the character, and it's unlikely he'll ever get to portray the buff villain.
Gunn and Peter Safran are currently running DC Films, and not everyone is jumping into the new DCU. Not only have most of the Justice League actors moved on, but Gunn has also stated that he's working on an as-yet-untitled Superman project that will explore the character in his younger years.
In a new interview with Insider, Bautista stated that he believed Gunn wanted to skew younger across the board. "I have had conversations with James about that but I think the direction he's leaning in, completely rebooting that whole universe, he's starting from scratch and starting younger and fresher and I think you need to do that," Bautista said. He also said the DCEU could only be revived if younger actors can pick up the slack.
In an updated version of the article, Bautista's publicist Danica Smith stated that Bautista had previously discussed playing Bane, but not since Gunn became the co-CEO of DC Studios. Bautista also appeared reluctant about taking on the role due to its physicality. Bautista, who is currently 54, would likely need to spend a lot of time preparing for the role, something he may not want to commit to.
Bautista isn't the only actor to discuss his future in Gunn's DCU. Jason Momoa, who currently plays Aquaman, is rumored to be up for the role of Lobo in Gunn's iteration of the franchise. Momoa was cagey about his involvement, unlike Bautista, who gave a firm denial, while Momoa gave a non-committal response.
Gunn's DC slate was partially unveiled, but the ten projects announced are only a part of "Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters." Since Bane is a pretty iconic Batman foe, he'll likely appear in the universe sooner rather than later. Bautista could play a different character, even if he won't be playing Bane.
Source: Insider