Dave Bautista only started working in mainstream movies a little over five years ago, but he’s already got a résumé that would make most actors jealous. As Drax, he’s the heart and soul of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, and made a triumphant appearance in the biggest movie of all time, Avengers: Endgame.

A former WWE World Heavyweight Champion (among many, many other accomplishments under his ring name, “Batista”), the 50-year-old is predictably huge, squeezed into a small chair in a studio in downtown Manhattan. He’s wearing a double-breasted suit that’s practically creaking under the strain of his wide, wide shoulders. It’s a great look.

Bautista knows he looks different from the usual aspiring Hollywood leading man, but that’s exactly who he wants to be. His newest film, Stuber, pairs him with comedian Kumail Nanjiani for an old-fashioned buddy comedy by way of a treatise on modern masculinity. GQ sat down with the actor to discuss his new role, Marvel, wrestling, and his lifelong dream to be in a romantic comedy.

GQ: With a film as contained as Stuber, I don't think it can work unless the two of you really enjoy being scene partners.

Dave Bautista: I could narrow it down even more and say: it just doesn't work without Kumail. He is the shining star in this film and I'm happy to say that. I was a fan of his, and when I was told that Kumail was attached to play Stu, I called. I thought Big Sick was an exceptional film. I would keep coming across films and I noticed that he was in there. It was always little roles, but he was always stealing scenes. He's a special talent.

You're an intimidating presence, obviously, but a lot of the tension in this film is understated. You're whispering insults to each other.

I take pride in being subtle, especially when you're a big imposing person physically. I think the more you try to play that up, the less imposing it is. But if you play it down, it becomes more imposing. If you can take someone with my stature and turn it way down. Then when I decided to turn it up, then it's terrifying. I like to play with that.

You must've learned to really play it up first though, coming through WWE.

Oh yeah, way over the top. That is the stigma I was stuck with when I wanted to become a real actor. There was a point in my career where none of my social media contained anything that said WWE. I just wanted to completely remove myself from that world. Not because I was embarrassed or ashamed to have come from that world, but I needed people to lose that stereotype with me being a professional wrestler. Open their eyes, broaden their minds a little bit of who I could be.

Then when I felt like I had finally established that respect, that credit, I started owning it. I had more than a few people when I went back for WrestleMania this year, more than a few of my peers in acting, who were surprised that I was ever a professional wrestler. They had no idea. To me, that's an accomplishment. That's a statement.

I actually watched your match at WrestleMania this year. It's pageantry! My friend pointed out it's basically musical theater.

It's exactly what it is. I love musicals. I love theater. I'm that guy, that's my bucket list: My biggest fear to actually be on stage performing in theater. The musical thing is pretty farfetched for me because I can't sing, but if I had the talent or if somebody would be willing to work with me, I would be up there so fast. I love musicals, man.