Looks like fans of Dave Bautista won't be without their big cuddly muscleman for too long after he plays Drax for the last time in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The actor and former wrestler has just been confirmed as part of the cast for Rian Johnson's upcoming film Knives Out 2, and suddenly this sequel to the incredibly well-received murder mystery from 2019 just got even more intriguing.
Already starring Daniel Craig in his returning role as the delightfully over-the-top detective Benoit Blanc, Knives Out 2 is currently still a bit of an enigma itself. At the moment, little is known about the film except for the return of Craig's character. So the news about Bautista's casting has effectively doubled the number of facts most people know about the highly anticipated follow-up. Naturally, no information was given about Bautista's role, because of course it wasn't. Maybe fans will have to perform some Columbo-style snooping to figure that out on their own.
Bautista seems to be really putting himself out there lately, with his time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe almost ready to come to an end. It's a surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one. His announcement that he was done playing Drax the Destroyer after the next Guardians of the Galaxy film came from less of a desire to retire and more due to how he doesn't seem to think he's fit for those sorts of roles anymore at his age. Luckily, Bautista's casting in Zack Snyder's new zombie film Army of the Dead has already proven that he has no intentions of slowing down.
Knives Out wowed audiences in 2019 with its intricate mystery, its eccentric cast of characters, and its impeccable sense of style. It's the type of movie where every viewing reveals new details that were missed the first, second, or even third time around, which seems to be one of its director's greatest strengths. Johnson's writing and directing style provided for a tightly constructed web of deceit and humor, laying out the perfect environment for his actors to really let loose with their roles. The first film was a star-studded affair, boasting big names like Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Evans, and Michael Shannon, and with the inclusion of Bautista in the sequel, it seems as though that theme will likely continue.
Bautista is really an excellent choice for Knives Out 2. Even outside of the acting world, where he regularly puts out excellent performances, he has a personality that meshes well with Johnson's. They both seem to be the types who thrive when allowed to push forward on their own terms, as suggested by Bautista's assertive pitch to play Bane in a DC movie. Naturally, Johnson would have more control in this case, but considering how well Bautista worked with James Gunn, he'll most likely be a fantastic fit.
Knives Out 2 is already shaping up to be more of the multiple-viewing magic that fans absolutely ate up with the first film, even without knowing anything about the plot or characters. Just knowing that Craig's lovable detective will interact with the always entertaining Bautista in some way is enough to elevate expectations even well before the film begins shooting this summer.
Knives Out 2 will start production soon and release exclusively on Netflix.
Source: Deadline