After publicly expressing his desire to star in a romantic comedy and questioning why he hadn’t been offered one, Dave Bautista’s wish seems to be coming true. In 2023, Bautista told Page Six, “Am I that unattractive? Is there something that unappealing about me that excludes me from these parts?” Now, the tides have turned.
At the Los Angeles premiere of his latest action film, The Killer’s Game, Bautista revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that his viral comments “sparked quite a conversation, but I started getting a lot of phone calls after that.” He further elaborated, “I said that and started getting calls immediately. So we’ve got a couple that we’re developing that are actually really funny,” adding that he’s now “making my way there, like a full-on rom-com. Not like an action rom-com, a full-on rom-com.”
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While The Killer’s Game is still rooted in action, it marks Bautista’s first foray into romance as a leading man. He plays an assassin who, after being misdiagnosed with a terminal illness, puts a hit on himself, only to discover he’s healthy and must now fight off a horde of killers. The film also features a romantic subplot with a woman played by Sofia Boutella.
Reflecting on this new challenge, Bautista admitted, “It was nerve-wracking for me; I’m hoping people receive it well, still a little self-conscious about it.” However, he emphasized his desire for growth, stating, “It was a couple of years ago where I said to myself I need to stop taking so many supporting roles, and I need to seek out lead roles, even if I have to create lead roles for myself.”
Bautista’s ambition extends beyond just leading roles. He aims to become a bigger star to gain the leverage to produce smaller, independent films that he’s passionate about. He explained, “It’s funny, I want to be a bigger star so I can make smaller films, that’s my goal. Those are the films I love. But the fastest route to that is being a commodity; if you’re a big star, you’re a commodity.”
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Bautista’s co-star, Sofia Boutella, believes he’s a natural romantic lead, stating, “I think it’s relatable, and why not? He’s great at it, I found him very touching in the film.” Pom Klementieff, another of Bautista’s co-stars, added that the new movie allows the audience to “see so many colors of his acting palate… It’s beautiful to see a softer side of him and something cuter and more emotional and beautiful like that.”
With “The Killer’s Game” hitting theaters and several rom-coms in development, it seems Bautista’s career is taking an exciting new turn.
