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See What Jason Momoa’s Drax Would Have Looked Like In Guardians Of The Galaxy

By Nick Venable | Published

This article is more than 2 years old

Back when Game of Thrones star Jason Momoa was in line for James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy, it seemed like a perfect fit. A big, hulking actor taking on the part of Drax, a big, hulking half-alien. Made perfect sense. Gunn’s eventual decision to go with WWE superstar Dave Bautista appeared to come out of a left field galaxy, but we all know how successful that decision ended up being. Still, one has to wonder what might have been, and with the stellar concept art below, now we know.

Given how humanoid he looks here—and I’m talking less about arms and legs and more about his lean physique—this version of Drax probably wouldn’t have lasted two minutes with Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace). (Not that the other Drax did much better.) Maybe it’s the darker, sharper color tones, but this version looks way more like a homicidal maniac than a vengeful warrior. I like it, though. Here’s how Bautista looked holding his set of wicked blades, just in case you forgot.

guardians of the galaxyMomoa turned the project down because he didn’t want yet another role where his unclothed torso did more talking than his mouth. It’s hard to argue that Drax’s dialogue was more plentiful than his body makeup, but it was in what Drax said that his character truly came alive. In any case, there’s no use crying over spilled mo-milk-a. (Don’t hit me.)

The illustration seen above comes to us from—no surprise here—Marvel artist Andy Park, who has rained down a slew of concept imagery in recent weeks, from a different-colored Gamora to a more intense Nebula. If you’ve been waiting to how Park envisioned Groot and Rocket Raccoon, take a peek at the tweet below, in which Groot looks straight out of a Tales from the Darkside episode.

That version wouldn’t have transitioned into a cutesy dancing plant at all, but maybe a darker version of the Guardians will find their way into a feature or TV show one day, and Park’s design can be resurrected.

Would you guys have preferred to see Momoa don the blue-green makeup, or was Dave Bautista the right man for the job?

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Guardians of the Galaxy jason mamoa Andy Park