Dave Bautista Moved to Tears by Casting in Sci-Fi Epic ‘Dune’
Dave Bautista, renowned for his roles in both wrestling and Hollywood, found himself overcome with emotion upon receiving an offer to join the cast of the highly anticipated sci-fi film ‘Dune’.
The 55-year-old actor, reprising his character Glossu Rabban in the sequel, shared his heartfelt reaction to being offered the role, reflecting on the journey that led him to this pivotal moment. Bautista recalled his initial struggle to convince director Denis Villeneuve of his acting prowess during auditions for ‘Blade Runner 2049’, making the ‘Dune’ offer all the more meaningful.
Recalling the poignant phone call with Villeneuve, Bautista expressed, “Anything past, ‘I really want you to play this role,’ I didn’t hear. You know my story; I had to fight really hard for the first ‘Blade Runner’ film. So a year or two later, when he called me for the Rabban role, he just called, and he said, ‘Hey, I have this role for you. I’d really love for you to play it.’ I mean, talk about choked up and me, like, tearing up. It was so validating to get that call.”
Bautista praised Villeneuve as a master storyteller and highlighted his exceptional ability to communicate with actors. He described their collaborative process as deeply engaging, with Villeneuve’s direction providing insightful perspectives on character portrayal.
“I think he’s one of the best storytellers I’ve ever met,” Bautista remarked. “Even after every take, if he comes in and he wants to adjust my performance, it’s always, ‘I would like you to do this and this is why.’ So he kind of gives a thought process to go with it. It’s a deeper process.”
As Bautista eagerly prepares to bring his character to life once again in ‘Dune’, his heartfelt response to the casting reaffirms the profound impact of recognition and validation within the realm of filmmaking.
