Dave Bautista

• Dave Bautista said he would love to do a rom-com.
• He told, “I still have great aspirations. I’ll just carry on looking.”
• For a variety of reasons, Bautista would be ideal as the lead in a romantic comedy.

Dave Bautista said he would love to do a rom-com but has never been offered a role in one during the press tour for M. Night Shyamalan’s new film “Knock at the Cabin”, in which he portrays the leader of a mystery gang trying to stop the apocalypse. He told, “I still have great aspirations. I’ll just carry on looking. I also have great hopes. For a variety of reasons, Bautista would be ideal as the lead in a romantic comedy.

Although Bautista is not the first wrestler to crossover to acting, he is unquestionably one of the most well-known and talented. In the last ten years, Bautista has starred in a number of popular series, such as the Dune villain Glossu “Beast” Rabban and the MCU warrior Drax the Destroyer (and upcoming Dune 2).

His versatility has been seen in non-action movies, though. My Spy gave Bautista the opportunity to display his more sensitive side even though it is still a spy thriller in which he portrays a CIA agent. The film largely focuses on his relationship with a nine-year-old wannabe agent whom he learns to guide and care for. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery amply demonstrated that he already has the “com” component of rom-com down down, managing to stand out as a men’s rights activist in a cast of comic giants.

An appearance by Bautista in a romantic comedy would not be unusual. There are numerous examples of actors best recognised for their action roles doing enduring romantic comedies. For instance, Liam Neeson was fresh off the Star Wars prequels when he made an appearance in Love, Actually. (And before using his specific set of abilities in Taken.) Prior to Face/Off and National Treasure, Nicolas Cage starred alongside Cher in Moonstruck, which won an Oscar.

Jerry Maguire is regarded as one of Tom Cruise’s most well-known roles, despite having roles in Top Gun and Mission: Impossible on his portfolio. It’s no secret that action stars have successfully transitioned to romantic comedies in the past, and Bautista could do the same and succeed.

Unfortunately, the number of rom-coms has substantially dropped over the past few years due to the continuously evolving film industry. The fact that rom-coms aren’t being produced as frequently as they once were may be a contributing factor in Bautista’s lack of a call, which is unfortunate given how popular they are right now.

The reigning queen Zoey Deutch and the queen of the 2000s rom-coms Kate Hudson have both spoken out against it. We’re overdue for a renaissance, and happily, it seems as though we’re about to get one thanks to celebrities like Julia Roberts and Jennifer Lopez who are going back to their roots in movies like Ticket to Paradise, Marry Me, and Shotgun Wedding.

But let’s hope that this new rom-com renaissance will also bring about greater diversity. These discussions frequently center on issues of sexuality and race, both of which are crucial considerations given the historical predominance of white, cisgender, heterosexual narrative. However, it shouldn’t end there.

Characters with varied disabilities, people of diverse ages, and people with varying physical shapes should all be included in the drive for inclusion. The vast majority of rom-com couples in the past have all been young, slender, neurotypical, and physically fit. It would be refreshing to see someone like Bautista, who is in his 50s, has a very muscular frame, and is partly Filipino, in a main role.

Additionally, there is a definite demand for it. Just take a look at the himbo character’s recent increase in popularity. Simply described, a himbo is a man who is charming and friendly but not extremely intelligent. Think of Joe Keery as Steve in Stranger Things or Chris Hemsworth as Thor.

In movies like Magic Mike and She’s the Man, Channing Tatum has even made a profession portraying them, while the Brendan Fraser comeback has brought back memories of his himbo heydays in The Mummy, Encino Man, and George of the Jungle. If given the chance, Bautista has the good looks and inherent charisma to compete with the top himbos.

By not including Bautista in rom-coms, Hollywood is losing a significant potential. History has demonstrated how having a leading guy like him may have both a positive cultural impact and commercial success. He would likely be a great draw in this kind of role while yet adding a novel twist to the formula, according to the data. So casting directors, what are you waiting for? Let’s put it into action.

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