Dave Bautista Doesn't Think Too Highly Of The Rock's Acting Ability

Dave Bautista clearly isn't a fan of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's work.

And no, we're not talking about his wrestling credentials - we're talking about his acting ability.

Despite following in The Rock's footsteps by making the switch from a WWE ring to the Hollywood big screen, Bautista doesn't think much of Johnson's on-screen talents.

Dwayne Johnson

51-year-old Bautista called time on his professional wrestling career in 2019 and has since thrown himself into the movie industry.

But while he has taken criticism for some of his earlier roles, the former four-time WWE Heavyweight Champion has since flourished on camera having starred in blockbuster films such as Blade Runner 2049, Spectre, Heist, Bushwick and Guardians of the Galaxy.

And with the likes of John Cena and Ronda Rousey recently joining Bautista in Hollywood, many believe that The Rock paved the way for wrestlers and combat athletes to make the transition into acting.

But 290-pound wrecking ball Bautista thinks otherwise.

"(The Rock and John Cena) are wrestlers who became movie stars. I'm something else. I was a wrestler. Now, I'm an actor," he told the Tampa Bay Times.

Marvel

"The Rock was, in a way, a movie star before he was even a movie star.

"There is something about him that's really special. I'd never take that away from him.

"Would I consider him a great actor? F*** no."

Bautista's latest film Dune has just finished production and is expected to be released in December of this year.

But while The Rock's roles saw him become the highest-paid actor in Hollywood this year, its roles in films such as Dune that Bautista hopes can push his new-found career in the right direction.

"I want good roles. I don't care about Fast and Furious or Bumblebee. That's not the kind of stardom I want," he said.

"I want to be in Dune, I want to work with Denis Villeneuve.

"I want to work with Sam Mendes and Jodie Foster, I want to work with Academy Award winners.

"I'm proud to be a character actor. I want that respect and credibility and education."

Topics: Film, Movies, The Rock, Dwayne Johnson, Wrestling, John Cena, WWE, Release date, Australia, Ronda Rousey

Max Sherry

Max Sherry is a journalist for SPORTbible Australia. After migrating Down Under from London as a teenager, he instantly fell in love with Aussie sport and its culture. From NRL to AFL, cricket to rugby — you name it, Max watches it (with a beer in hand, of course). During his time at Fox Sports, he worked in the football department covering the Premier League, A-League, Socceroos and Matildas. Born a stone's throw away from West Ham's training ground, Max is obviously a die-hard Liverpool fan.

@maxysherry