What's happened
Dave Bautista expresses relief that his time as Drax the Destroyer in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise is coming to an end
Why it matters
The departure of a key character from a popular franchise is significant news for fans of the series and for the film industry as a whole. Bautista's comments also highlight the challenges of playing a physically demanding role and the emotional toll it can take on an actor.
What the papers say
The Independent, Sky News, CNET
How we got here
Dave Bautista debuted as Drax the Destroyer in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie in 2014. He has since reprised the role in five other Marvel films and a holiday special. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which is expected to be the last in the series, will mark Bautista's last appearance as Drax.
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David Michael Bautista Jr. is an American actor, retired professional wrestler, former mixed martial artist, and bodybuilder. As a professional wrestler, he is known for his time in WWE from 2002 to 2010, in 2014, and one final run in 2018–2019.
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Drax the Destroyer is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Jim Starlin, the character first appeared in The Invincible Iron Man #55.
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Brendan James Fraser is a Canadian-American actor. He played Rick O'Connell in The Mummy trilogy, and had leading roles in numerous comedy and fantasy films, including Encino Man, George of the Jungle, Bedazzled, Looney Tunes: Back in Action, and Journey