Dave Bautista has threatened to quit ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ unless Marvel promise to use James Gunn’s script.
The 49-year-old actor is adamant he won’t do another film for the studio unless they agree to use the director’s work because he believes they owe it to him.
Speaking to Shortlist magazine, Bautista said: "James is one of the kindest, most decent people I’ve met. He’s already turned the script for ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ and 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 because I’d be doing James a disservice if I didn’t."
Gunn was fired by Disney earlier this year when some controversial tweets, which he posted over 10 years ago, resurfaced online and, although many have campaigned to have him reinstated, the company are adamant he won’t return.
Bautista – who plays Drax the Destroyer in the film franchise – believes that punishment Gunn has received for the contentious posts was too severe and, although him and his cast mates have penned a letter to bosses venting their fury at his dismissal, he doesn’t think the 52-year-old director will ever get rehired.
He explained: "I don’t think the letter will get him rehired, but I hope it opens people’s eyes to James’ character, nobody is defending his tweets, but this was a smear campaign against a good man.
"I spoke to Chris Pratt the day after it happened and he’s a bit religious so he wanted time to pray and figure it out, but I was more like ‘f*** this, this is bullsh**.’ "
Dave Bautista won’t do another ‘Guardians’ film unless the studio uses James Gunn’s script
