Bautista’s Saddest MCU Ending Would Fix Marvel's Biggest Drax Mistake

The saddest way that Dave Bautista exits the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is also the best way that Marvel Studios can fix their biggest Drax the destroyer mistake. Nine years after he joined the MCU via James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy film, Bautista confirms that his upcoming outing as Drax the Destroyer will also be his last. With plot details about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 still under wraps, it's difficult to say what his final fate will be, but the threequel offers Marvel Studios the opportunity to make up for their biggest blunder when it comes to handling Drax's MCU story.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3's story has long been decided, and nothing from its major beats was changed after it was delayed significantly due to Gunn's debacle with Disney. The filmmaker has repeatedly teased that the threequel will be very emotional as it will mark the end of the run of the original Guardians of the Galaxy roster, promising a major death or two. Regardless of what Gunn has planned for Drax in the upcoming MCU film, the best way for his story to end would be tragic, but it will finally address Marvel Studios' biggest mistake in handling the character.

Drax Dying In Guardians 3 Can Make Up For The MCU Underusing Him

Drax Guardians of the galaxy Holiday special

Drax's story was motivated by his need for revenge against Thanos who killed his family. Sadly, Marvel Studios never fully tackled this narrative. In fact, Drax never even got to confront Thanos. Instead, the franchise relegated the character more to a comedic tool, severely underutilizing him. So instead of prolonging his existence in the MCU by keeping him alive, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 should see him die a hero's death which would highlight his importance in the Guardians of the Galaxy team. Somehow, this gives Marvel Studios the chance to make up for wasting Drax and not give him his due.

With his original character premise long finished and with no new personal arc being set up, it's best that Marvel Studios don't keep the character around just for the sake of it. As tragic as it may be to see Drax die and the Guardians of the Galaxy lose an important member, giving him a satisfying send-off is arguably better than seeing him get separated from the team. In any case, unless Marvel Studios recast Bautista's Drax, they cannot regularly utilize the character moving forward. Keeping him alive but as a background character only makes their big mistake in handling the hero's arc worse.

How Drax’s Death Can Be Good For The Guardians’ MCU Future

Drax and Mantis passed out in their holiday attire in the Holiday Special.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special somehow gave Drax the attention that he deserves. In the themed offering on Disney+, he teams up with Mantis to bring Star-Lord an unforgettable Christmas present. Gunn set up the pair's sometimes odd, but pure connection in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and their special mission further deepened their relationship. Given this, Drax's possible death in GOTG3 can serve as the launching pad for Mantis’ future story. His loss could empower her to take on her personal journey in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the same way the demise of Ho Yinsen and Dr. Erskine inspired Iron Man and Captain America respectively.

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