James Gunn Remains Tight-Lipped on Bane & Deathstroke DCU Film Rumors, but Dave Bautista as Bane Seems Unlikely

Creature Commandos has finally made its debut, marking the beginning of a new era under the helm of James Gunn for the DC Universe. Gunn’s vision not only aims to revive the DC brand on both television and film but also seeks to expand it in unprecedented ways that Warner Bros. hasn’t quite nailed before. With an upcoming Superman movie and the second season of Peacemaker hitting our screens next year, there’s a lot of excitement surrounding his plans for DC’s cinematic future. And let’s not forget about the buzz around potential projects, like that Bane & Deathstroke movie that’s got everyone talking.

During a deep-dive chat with Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Gunn shared some of his aspirations for the DCU and addressed broader topics about comic book adaptations. But there was a particularly intriguing moment towards the end that we couldn’t ignore—it involved the possible inclusion of Guardians of the Galaxy cast members in this universe, specifically Dave Bautista taking on the role of Bane.

This summer, Bautista expressed his long-standing interest in portraying Bane, saying he’s been intrigued by the idea for “forever.” Yet, he recently admitted he might not be able to “do the character justice” given his current age and physique. Though fans might still argue he’s the perfect fit, it seems Bautista has shifted focus to other opportunities and moved past this particular dream role.

Gunn, however, isn’t completely dismissing the idea. He did mention he’s unsure if “Dave wants to be Bane anymore,” but he also hinted at potential collaborations with Guardians cast members down the line. “I, of course, love Dave and wanna work with Dave again,” Gunn stated, showing his openness to involving Bautista in some capacity.

Interestingly, when it came to discussing the rumors of a Bane & Deathstroke movie, Gunn chose a rather coy response—drinking water while smiling and chuckling. This kind of playful reaction often acts as an unofficial nod from creatives and executives, suggesting there’s more to the story than they’re letting on. So, if fan-casting is your thing, now might be the time to start imagining these characters in Gunn’s DCU.

The entire chat is a must-watch if you have nearly 50 minutes to spare and are eager about what’s in store for DC’s on-screen saga under the new leadership of DC Studios. Make sure to check out the interview below on YouTube.