The entire cast of "Guardians of the Galaxy" went to bat for their now former director James Gunn after he was fired by Disney for years old controversial tweets about rape and child pedophilia. He apologized, but after the tweets resurfaced Disney and Marvel decided to axe him from the third film of the series.
Dave Bautista, who plays Drax the Destroyer in the "Guardian" films, explained to his fanbase that he's still contractually obligated to star in volume three, but a film without Gunn is "not what I signed up for." With its decision, Disney is validating an alt right "smear campaign," Bautista wrote.
I will do what Im legally obligated to do but @Guardians without @JamesGunn is not what I signed up for. GOTG w/o @JamesGunn just isn’t GOTG. Its also pretty nauseating to work for someone who’d empower a smear campaign by fascists #cybernazis . That’s just how I feel https://t.co/Ym4FwruVDu
— Dave Bautista (@DaveBautista) August 5, 2018
At the very least, Bautista warned the studio in a new interview with Shortlist, they better keep Gunn's script, or he's walking.
“Where I’m at right now is that if [Marvel] don’t use that script, then I’m going to ask them to release me from my contract, cut me out or recast me,” Bautista said. “I’d be doing James a disservice if I didn’t.”
Last week, Bautista and his fellow cast members Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, and Vin Diesel released a statement in support of Gunn. He is a good person who is unfairly being put on trial, they wrote.
"His story isn't over - not by a long shot," they predicted.