Before John Cena became the face of DC’s foul-mouthed, gun-slinging anti-hero in *The Suicide Squad* and the *Peacemaker* series, director **James Gunn** revealed that he once had another actor in mind—**Dave Bautista**.
## Bautista as Peacemaker?
Gunn admitted that when he was first conceptualizing *The Suicide Squad*, he thought about casting Bautista as **Christopher Smith, aka Peacemaker**. Bautista, already known for his role as Drax in Marvel’s *Guardians of the Galaxy*, had the physical presence, intensity, and comedic timing that could have fit the role perfectly.
## Why Bautista Didn’t Take the Role
As much as Gunn wanted him, Bautista reportedly had other projects lined up at the time, which kept him from pursuing the role. Instead, the part eventually went to **John Cena**, who brought his own unique mix of charm, awkwardness, and over-the-top bravado—turning Peacemaker into one of DC’s breakout characters.
## Gunn on Cena’s Performance
While Gunn acknowledged Bautista would have been great, he also emphasized that Cena made the character his own. Cena’s commitment to the absurdity and heart of Peacemaker helped the role resonate with audiences, leading to the successful *Peacemaker* series on Max and confirming a second season in development.
## What Could Have Been
It’s fascinating to imagine Bautista in the role, especially since he and Gunn have a strong creative bond from *Guardians of the Galaxy*. However, this “what if” casting shows how Hollywood timing shapes iconic roles. Cena’s Peacemaker has become unforgettable, but knowing Bautista was almost in the mix makes DC fans wonder about an alternate timeline.
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🔥 **Bottom line:** James Gunn once considered Dave Bautista to play Peacemaker, but due to scheduling, the role went to John Cena—who turned it into one of DC’s most unexpected success stories.
James Gunn Reveals Dave Bautista Was Considered to Play Peacemaker
