Dave Bautista’s chemistry with Chris Pratt led to his ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ role.
The professional wrestler is set to make a huge impact on the big screen as the hulking Drax the Destroyer, but Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige has admitted it wasn’t until he did a screen test with the movie’s leading man that director James Gunn was convinced to hire him.
Speaking at a special Q&A in London on Tuesday (15.07.14), Feige said: "Chris was the reason why we cast Dave Bautista, because James was very smart and ended up doing these chemistry tests with Chris Pratt once we decided to hire him and, thankfully, he agreed to do it. And that was really what brought out Dave … Dave had done a number of good auditions by himself up to that point, but it was really when we put the two of them together that they both came to life even more."
Bautista and Pratt are joined in the blockbuster sci-fi epic by Zoe Saldana, as well as the voices of A-listers Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel, as an unlikely intergalactic superhero team.
Feige also revealed how Pratt – who was previously best known as a slightly pudgy TV sitcom star – was self-conscious about auditioning for the part of buff superhero Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord.
He said: "Chris initially didn’t want to come in because I think he felt self-conscious because his body was in ‘Parks and Recreation’ shape."
However, the actor stunned the producers in his auditions and Feige is confident he’ll be as "iconic" as other Marvel superheroes, such as Chris Hemsworth’s Thor.
He added: "The best thing for us is he’s the perfect Peter Quill and will take his rightful place alongside all those other iconic Marvel actors."
‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ is due for release on July 31, 2014.
Dave Bautista’s chemistry test with Chris Pratt
