Guardians of the Galaxy star, Dave Bautista, has stated that he finds working with Disney ‘nauseating’ after the mega-company, fired director James Gunn over old tweets.
The director of the first two movies, which have enjoyed wide success, will not be able to reprise his role for the third instalment after some old tweets which people found offensive were dug up and brought to light.
When asked if he would be coming back for Guardians of the Galaxy 3, the man who plays Drax, Dave Bautista, stated that he would, but more as a contractual obligation rather than something he would enjoy.
“I will do what I’m legally obligated to do but @Guardians without @JamesGunn is not what I signed up for,” he wrote on social media. “GOTG w/o @JamesGunn just isn’t GOTG.”
He took a swipe at Disney also stating. “It’s also pretty nauseating to work for someone who’d empower a smear campaign by fascists #cybernazis,” Bautista wrote. “That’s just how I feel.”
Bautista has been the most vocal about his support for James Gunn, but the other stars of the movie have also been in support of the director releasing a joint statement a week ago in which they said that he had always been a great person to them
The statement read in full:
We fully support James Gunn. We were all shocked by his abrupt firing and have intentionally waited these ten days to respond in order to think, pray, listen, and discuss. In that time, we’ve been encouraged by the outpouring of support from fans and members of hehe media who wish to see James reinstated as director of Volume 3 as well as discouraged by those so easily duped into believing the many outlandish conspiracy theories surrounding him.
Being in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies has been a great honor in each of our lives. We cannot let this moment pass without expressing our love, support, and gratitude for James. We are not here to defend his jokes of many years ago but rather to share our experience having spent many years together on set making Guardians of the Galaxy 1 and 2. The character he has shown in the wake of his firing is consistent with the man he was every day on set, and his apology, now and from years ago when first addressing these remarks, we believe is from the heart, a heart we all know, trust, and love. In casting each of us to help him tell the story of misfits who find redemption, he changed our lives forever. We believe the theme of redemption has never been more relevant than now.
Each of us looks forward to working with our friend James again in the future. His story isn’t over — not by a long shot.
There is little due process in the court of public opinion. James is likely not the last good person to be put on trial. Given the growing political divide in this country, it’s safe to say instances like this will continue, although we hope Americans from across the political spectrum can ease up on the character assassinations and stop weaponizing mob mentality.
It is our hope that what has transpired can serve as an example for all of us to realize the enormous responsibility we have to ourselves and to each other regarding the use of our written words when we etch them in digitial stone; that we as a society may learn from this experience and in the future will think twice before we decide what we want to express; and in so learning perhaps can harness this capability to help and heal instead of hurting each other. Than you taking the time to read our words.
The Guardians of the Galaxy.
