Dave Bautista says it's "terrifying" to be cast in Rian Johnson's Knives Out 2. Fans of the original Knives Out remember the film for its strong characters, smart writing, and the stylistic direction Johnson took to tell the story. Bautista joins Daniel Craig, who portrayed Detective Benoit Blanc, for the film's sequel, which is set to start filming in Greece this June. Ever since it was announced that Netflix secured a deal for two Knives Out sequelsKnives Out 2 has made some major casting updates within the last few weeks. Bautista and Craig are set to be joined by Edward Norton and Janelle Monae. The rest of the cast, as well as specific character details, have yet to be revealed. 

At this time in his career, Bautista is no stranger to demanding roles with high profile casts. Having started in the WWE, Bautista was able to successfully transition himself into acting with James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy, portraying the character of Drax. Bautista was able to shine as the character and steal the spotlight with his strong comedic timing in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Avengers: Infinity War. Currently, Bautista is showing his versatility as a performer as he is set to appear in Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead and Denis Villeneuve's Dune in prominent roles.

Related: James Gunn Responds to Dave Bautista Stepping Away as Drax After GOTG Vol 3

Even with the rising star power behind Bautista, he claims in an interview with Slashfilm.com, that being cast in Knives Out 2 is "terrifying." Bautista expressed how nervous he is about joining the cast and talked about the pressure that comes along with taking on a role in such a popular film loaded with big stars. Read what Bautista said below:

It feels terrifying. I’m nervous about it. I’m really nervous. It’s one of those things where now the pressure’s on, because people are expecting things from you. I want to deliver. I take pride in that. I’m a game player. I want to throw a touchdown pass. I know the script is brilliant, I know the director is brilliant, and I know everybody that they’re going to cast – obviously Daniel [Craig] is there, he’s brilliant, and I believe Ed Norton’s been cast as well. So the names are going to get bigger and better, and for me, I can’t get it out of my head that – there’s always going to be a part of me that feels like I’m new to this and I’m still learning, and I want to be able to hold my own.

Knives Out 2 written below Daniel Craig sitting in an armchair

Bautista is hoping for perfection with his performance. As details of the film continue to surface, the depth of his character is yet to be known. Yet if Johnson's writing is as good as Bautista claims and he has faith in the production, there is no doubt he can meet the standard he has set for himself. From his prior performances, Bautista has shown no fear in pushing himself down new paths or attempting interesting characters. However, if Knives Out 2 hopes to live up to the standard the first film set, a lot is to be expected from every party involved. 

Bautista is very aware of these looming expectations and hopes that he can give the fans what they want, in addition to giving the strong performance the film needs. This mindset can be a double edged sword, as it gives the actor drive and determination while it can also lead to self doubt and second guessing each choice made. Bautista challenges himself to be better with every role, which should give the film whatever it needs to meet everyone's expectations, including his own.

More: Dune 2020: Why Dave Bautista's Beast Has Bleached Skin

Source: Slashfilm.com

Key Release Dates