The controversy and debate over Disney’s firing of James Gunn continues. Gunn was due to write and direct Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 for Marvel Studios and Disney, but after far right figures brought some old, offensive and gross tweets made by Gunn around a decade ago, Disney cut ties with the writer-director. Guardians star Dave Bautista isn’t having it.
Speaking to ShortList, the wrestler-turned-actor made his thoughts on the matter quite clear.
“Nobody’s defending his tweets, but this was a smear campaign on 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 bullshit.’ James is one of the kindest, most decent people I’ve met… 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. I’d be doing James a disservice if I didn’t.”
Bautista also tweeted at a fan with some more specificity the day before.
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
Bautista was one of several co-stars of the film series who signed a letter of support for Gunn. Numerous reports (via Variety) have indicated that the kid-friendly Disney will not rehire Gunn, calling into question whether or not Marvel Studios will be able to use Gunn’s screenplay. Gunn is still featured in a directors’ roundtable discussion in the Avengers: Infinity War special features, and could very well still receive an executive producer credit on the fourth Avengers film as he did for Infinity War.
Whatever the case, even though Bautista has proven himself to be a formidable actor in films like Blade Runner 2049, he doesn’t have the same star power as Chris Pratt should Disney have to cut him loose as well. For all we know, Disney is checking up on John Cena’s schedule for his availability. Watch your back, Bautista.
Dave Bautista tells ShortList he’ll quit ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ if James Gunn’s script isn’t used [ShortList]
