Dave Bautista admits that John Cena is a better fit as Peacemaker

Dave Bautista has confirmed that he was James Gunn's first choice to play Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad, a role that ended up in John Cena's hands and became one of the cornerstones of the current DC Universe. The director himself wrote the character with Bautista in mind, but a scheduling conflict with the filming of Army of the Dead prevented him from accepting the project.

In statements to ComicBook.com, Bautista confessed that he regretted not being able to take on the role, but at the same time, he assured that it was a "blessing in disguise." According to the former WWE champion, Cena brought something unique to the character that he himself wouldn't have achieved.

Let's be honest: I wouldn't have been able to do it like John. He's perfect for the role and took it to another level. If I had done it, it wouldn't have had the same success.

Bautista added that, although he feels some healthy envy, he has no doubts that Cena managed to make the character his own and turn him into a phenomenon that transcended the movie, with his own series and new appearances in the DC cinematic universe. Gunn, on his part, had already explained that the issue was economic and about timing, and that Bautista had to prioritize another project that offered better conditions.

Beyond Hollywood, Bautista, known in WWE as Batista, and Cena shared an intense rivalry in the late 2000s. They even faced each other in high-profile matches, including the main event of WrestleMania 26, where Cena defeated Bautista to regain the WWE Championship. That rivalry helped solidify Cena as the face of the company and marked the beginning of Bautista's gradual farewell as a full-time wrestler.

The second season of Peacemaker is already underway in the DC universe. The new episodes are being released weekly on the Max streaming platform, continuing the antihero's story after the events of The Suicide Squad. The series has been well received by critics and fans, solidifying the character as one of the most popular in the franchise.