First Concept Art From CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER And New Concepts From GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

Dave Bautista Joins Chris Pratt In Marvel's GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

HeatVision confirms that Dave Bautista has been cast in the role of Drax The Destroyer in Guardians of The Galaxy. Jason Momoa had been in talks but couldn't agree on a fee/contract. Bautista will next be seen in the third Riddick film later this year. Dave joins previous addition Chris Pratt who plays Peter Quill/Starlord. Marvel's mantra has been developing their own stars such as Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston. Since Pratt and Bautista are lesser known names for a project like this I would assume whoever they get for Gamora it could be another actor Marvel could mold into an international star.

BREAKING: Jason Momoa Confirmed For Drax In GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY?

A new tweet from LatinoReview gives the impression that Marvel has decided on Game of Thrones actor Jason Momoa as their Drax The Destroyer in Guardians of The Galaxy. Former wrestler David Bautista (Riddick) had also been in the mix but it sounds like Momoa has ended up with the key supporting franchise role. Drax like Starlord (Chris Pratt) will be reoccurring characters in the budding franchise and could eventually see them join or help the Avengers in future films. Nothing is official yet, but expect one of the trades to get more information soon. The next meaty role will be powerhouse Gamora a role that as has had actresses like Gina Carano (Haywire) and others as rumored to be in the running.

Dave Bautista Competing With Jason Momoa For Drax Role In GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, Kevin Durand Could Also Take A Role

LatinoReview has a small update concerning the casting of Guardians of The Galaxy. They save that previously linked contender Dave Batista (Riddick, Man With The Iron Fists) is anew frontrunner alongside Jason Momoa (Bullet To The Head, Game of Thrones, Conan) for the supporting role of Drax The Destroyer. Jason apparently is trying renegotiate his original deal when he tested for the role. Marvel is known for limiting the amount they originally offer leads and supporting actors. However, they do end up earning big paydays later on along with massive international exposure which makes up for the small upfront fee. The James Gunn (Slither, Super) helmed picture is currently in preproduction in the UK and is still in the casting process. Chris Pratt (Zero Dark Thirty, Moneyball) is the only actor set for a role as leader of the Guardians, Peter Quill (Starlord). There is also rumblings that Marvel has found their Rocket Raccoon but haven't made it official.

They also add that Canadian actor Kevin Durand (Robin Hood, Wolverine, Smokin' Aces, Lost, 3:10 To Yuma, Resident Evil 5, Dark Angel) is up for an unnamed role. It's possible that he could in the mix for Nova, Adam Warlock or even Thanos. Kevin had been linked as a candidate for Crossbones in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. He already has Marvel roots playing The Blob in the underwhelming first Wolverine film. Not to mention a Disney link playing a villain in Real Steel.

I'm not sure how reliable this was originally but actresses such as Adrianne Palicki (Friday Night Lights, Red Dawn, G.I. Joe: Retaliation), Gina Carano (Haywire, Fast And Furious 6), Olivia Wilde (Tron Legacy, Cowboys And Aliens), Rosario Dawson (Trance, Sin City 1-2, Death Proof, 25th Hour), Rachel Nichols (Star Trek, Conan, G.I. Joe, Alias), Moon Bloodgood (Terminator Salvation, Faster, Sessions, Falling Skies) and Kristanna Loken (Burn Notice, Terminator 3, L Word, Painkiller Jane) were rumored for Gamora. It would make sense that Wonder Woman candidates (in the case of Palicki played her in a TV pilot) would be looked for the role.

Jason Momoa Offered Drax Role In GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY?

LatinoReview has a casting update for Guardians of The Galaxy which is in pre-production in London, England. They say that Jason Momoa (Conan, Game of Thrones) has been offered the supporting role of Drax The Destroyer. Adding he flew over to London to test for the part and is now working out a deal with Marvel. Chris Pratt is the only actor locked-in for the film playing Peter Quill/Star-Lord.

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje Talks THOR THE DARK WORLD And BLACK PANTHER

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje was interviewed by MTV taking in length about his experience playing dual roles of Algrim and Kurse in Thor: The Dark World. He also gives the impression he's already talking with the studio about another role in an upcoming film. Two major roles seem to standout as perfect for him that being Drax The Destroyer and the villain Thanos The Mad Titan in Guardians of The Galaxy.

“Thor 2; great movie, great opportunity. I've been a fan of the Marvel Comics and I got a massive opportunity to play two characters in the movie: Algrim and Kurse. You go in thinking, 'Yeah this is great.' But when you get in there, you're like whoa; six hours of makeup, prosthetics, all the physical [stuff]. But honestly, I loved it. It's going to be such an epic. And both of the characters; I have blonde hair, blue eyes, pointed ears, fangs, horns; everything you could want as boy in an action hero movie. It's amazing. The Fighting was really demanding. For instance, Kurse is the one that does all the fighting. It's forty pounds of extra weight and the good thing about it is that it's very flexible and elastic. I have a routine before I put it on: I stretch and do all my pilates. You see this big creature doing pilates, it's great. And then we'd have to go fight. Me and Chris [Hemsworth] go toe-to-toe. It was hardcore. But you don't really get into [these kinds of movies] of you're not ready for that kind of thing. You gotta be mentally fit, physically fit because you're going to shoot a scene ten to fifteen different ways.”

“[Thor and Kurse] fight differently. Chris has his hammer while Kurse is very animalistic, he's got horns. So I tried to go with that flow. My movements are [basically] like an animal: twisting my body, turning my head, all kinds of things. Kurse is meant to be extremely powerful, nothing can stop him. It's a great ride. There's fights everything in the movie. Loki gets his fair share of fights; [one of which] is between him and I as well. The great thing about Kurse is he is having it with everybody. But yes, Loki has some amazing fights. [Fans] are really gonna be happy with this movie. Everybody gets their little shine. I won't tell you what really happens, but there's some great surprises.”

“As we speak, [Marvel and I] are talking about [playing in another Marvel movie]. Obviously, Marvel is a great family that I'm happy to be working with. We had a great time on Thor: The Dark World. I loved to continue that relationship. (After Guardians of the Galaxy was brought up) I'm not talking about anything yet, just having a good relationship with Marvel.”

He also told MTV that he's still pursuing his campaign for T'Challa in Marvel's Black Panther. Considering he now has a relationship with the studio it's hard to say it would never happen.

"Who do I want to play him? Myself, let’s be real," Akinnuoye-Agbaje told MTV News with a smile, when asked if he is still carrying the torch for the role. "I would hope that playing Kurse would ingratiate me to becoming the Panther. You get in and have success in one, and you go and do the next one. [My campaign] is definitely not dropped."

"He’s one of my faves. I would love to play him," he continued. "You have to keep at it, you have to keep your card in the hat and see what comes out but I have to say I’m thrilled, I’ve been able to play two characters in one movie and if [Marvel] likes this and it this does well, it just gives you a better chance."

Michael Rosenbaum And John Krasinski In The Mix For GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, Plus Rumored Actors For Drax

The casting surrounding the James Gunn directed Guardians of The Galaxy seems like it's in full swing. We've heard a numerous amount of actors in the running for Peter Quill originally that included Lee Pace (The Fall, The Hobbit Trilogy), Joel Edgerton (Zero Dark Thirty, Animal Kingdom, Warrior), Jim Sturgess (Cloud Atlas), Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire) and Eddie Reddmayne (Les Miserables). Another group had been listed as hopefuls that included Garrett Hedlund (Tron Legacy, Troy, On The Road), James Marsden (Superman Returns, X-Men Trilogy) and Sullivan Stapleton (Animal Kingdom, Gangster Squad, Strike Back, 300: Rise of An Empire). Sturgess, Zachary Levi (Chuck, Thor The Dark World) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Dark Knight Rises, Inception Looper, Lincoln) have recently been linked as front-runners.

However, they aren't the only ones as Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville, Breaking In) has confirmed via Twitter that he's read for Quill. You might remember Rosenbaum taking-part in James Gunn's PG Porn short films. CBM has weighted in with their own rumors with John Krasinski (The Office, Promised Land) being in the mix as well. Krasinski had been a candidate for Steve Rogers during the casting for Captain America: The First Avenger.

CBM goes one step further as they mention names that are possibly up for the supporting role of Drax. They say that Dave Bautista (Riddick, The Man With The Iron Fists), Isaiah Mustafa (Old Spice Commercials) and Brian Patrick Wade (Big Bang Theory, Generation Kill). You might remember Mustafa had been campaigning for the role of Luke Cage/Power Man. Take this as a giant rumor because we haven't heard any names linked to Drax previously.

Marvel's 'GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY' Coming August 2014, Plus Concept Artwork

It's official Marvel has announced that Guardians of The Galaxy will be released on August 1st 2014. This will be the first film featuring new characters since Captain America: The First Avenger and could setup events leading to Avengers 2. We currently don't know the film's antagonist but it very well could be Thanos as the Avengers button scene was likely setting up Guardians. The film's script was written by Nicole Perlman who also turned in a draft for the Black Widow solo film. It's expected a director will be chosen soon along with casting set to begin.

Here is a piece of exceptional character concept artwork from artist Charlie Wen who has contributed to many of the Marvel films. Shown at SDCC it features Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon, Drax The Destroyer, Groot and Gamora revealing the team's lineup. Their costumes look definitely more cinematic than the comic book versions of the characters.

Kevin Feige Confirms Lineup For 'GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY'

During some Avengers press Marvel's Kevin Feige spoke to Crave giving a slight update on The Guardians of The Galaxy. The studio's first large scale film exploring the cosmic-universe recently became yet another project in the works. Kevin during the interview gives an impression of what the Guardians lineup will look like which includes Star-Lord, Drax, Gamora, Groot and Rocket Racoon. While the newest incarnation of the team also has Adam Warlock and Nova among the ranks those characters are likely to get their own films or will be saved for sequels. However, they very well could end up in the final roster. As it looks now the project could end up one of the releases in 2015 or even later down the line.




QUESTION: When asked about which non-sequel projects Marvel Studios was prioritizing at the moment, Feige said, "I think whether it's Ant-Man, or Dr. Strange, or The Inhumans, or The Guardians of the Galaxy..." To which we eagerly cried, "Rocket Racooooon...!" 


FEIGE: "We are very excited about bringing things like that, maybe things exactly like that, to the screen. [...] When you tell people, you know what would be really cool? This movie, and there's a raccoon, and there's a tree... And they go, 'What?' And people like you know what it is, and get excited. And the majority of people go, 'Did you say a raccoon and a tree?' 'Oh yeah, they're going to steal the whole movie. They're hilarious.' 'Okay, I'll believe it when I see it.' I like that." 


QUESTION: When asked to confirm that an upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy movie would be focused on the new team, as opposed to the original team, created in 1969 which had their own well-received series from Jim Valentino in the 1990s, he clarified: 


FEIGE: "Yeah. It's more Star-Lord and Drax and Gamora, and less Vance Astro and that team."