The Guardians of the Galaxy cast has been extremely supportive of the franchise’s writer and director James Gunn after he was fired by Disney following a right-wing smear campaign based around shock-humor tweets he posted nearly a decade go. Most vocal in his support has been Dave Bautista, who has been very active on Twitter voicing support for his friend. And according to a recent interview with ShortList, he is apparently ready to give up his role in the movie altogether if Gunn’s script isn’t used.
“Where I’m at right now is that if [Marvel] don’t use that script, then I’m going to ask them to release me from my contract, cut me out or recast me,” Bautista said. “I’d be doing James a disservice if I didn’t.”
The actor behind Drax the Destroyer and former WWE Champion mentioned yesterday on Twitter that he will do what he’s “legally obligated to do,” but a Guardians movie without James Gunn is “not what I signed up for,” saying it’s “nauseating to work for someone who’d empower a smear campaign by fascists #cybernazis.”
I will do what Im legally obligated to do but @Guardians without @JamesGunn is not what I signed up for. GOTG w/o @JamesGunn just isn’t GOTG. Its also pretty nauseating to work for someone who’d empower a smear campaign by fascists #cybernazis . That’s just how I feel https://t.co/Ym4FwruVDu
— Dave Bautista (@DaveBautista) August 5, 2018
While Bautista is perhaps Gunn’s most high profile supporter, he’s far from the only one: a Change.org petition to compel Disney to rehire Gunn has as of this writing reached 370,000 signatures in just over two weeks.
