Dave Bautista Turned Down Peacemaker for A Zack Snyder Film!

Dave Bautista recently opened up about why he didn’t take on the role of Peacemaker in DC’s hit series. Fans were surprised to learn that the part, now played by John Cena, was initially written with Bautista in mind.

Why Dave Bautista Couldn’t Take the Peacemaker Role

Bautista and James Gunn share a long history, as they previously worked together on Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy movies. In those films, Bautista starred as Drax the Destroyer, while Gunn directed all three installments. Since then, moreover, Gunn has played a key role in launching the new DC Universe (DCU) alongside Peter Safran for DC Studios and Warner Bros.

During an appearance on The Howard Stern Show, Gunn revealed that he had originally written the Peacemaker character specifically for Bautista. However, Bautista turned down the offer, which included two movies, and the role eventually went to John Cena.

Speaking with ComicBook, Bautista explained:

“I have to say, that one. I really wanted to do that part. [Gunn] wrote that part for me, and it was meant for me, and it just became a scheduling thing where I just couldn’t do it, because I was doing Army of the Dead. And so it was a scheduling issue that we just could not figure out.

…And I think it was great. It was a blessing in disguise that I didn’t do that, because I have to say, I have to be honest, there’s no way that I would have been able to do that role like [Cena]. He’s just perfect for it, you know, and I wouldn’t have done it justice, and it wouldn’t have been as successful.”

Peacemaker Season 2 Updates

Peacemaker Season 2 premiered on HBO Max last month, with new episodes releasing every Thursday until the finale on October 9, 2025. The series stars:

Danielle Brooks as Leota Adebayo
Freddie Stroma as Adrian Chase/Vigilante
Jennifer Holland as Emilia Harcourt
Steve Agee as John Economos
Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr.
Robert Patrick as Auggie Smith/Blue Dragon

John Cena now embodies Peacemaker. The show continues to gain traction and deliver thrilling storylines. This further establishes the DCU’s growing roster.