Drax Almost Didn’t Survive Guardians Vol 3—Why James Gunn Changed His Mind
So here’s something that surprised a lot of fans recently: Drax the Destroyer almost didn’t make it through Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 at all. In fact, during early development, the character was very close to being written out of the story entirely. As James Gunn worked through multiple drafts of the script, tough decisions were being made about which Guardians truly needed to stay, and Drax was one of the names seriously on the chopping block.
But instead of cutting him, a different path was chosen. Rather than being treated as just comic relief, Drax was reframed as one of the emotional cores of the film. His grief, which had been buried beneath jokes for years, was finally brought to the surface. This shift allowed the character to be explored in a deeper, more human way, even though he’s anything but human.
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One of the most powerful moments comes through his connection with Mantis. When she uses her empathic abilities on Drax, the sheer weight of his suppressed pain overwhelms her. Decades of loss, rage, and sorrow tied to the death of his wife and daughter are revealed in a single, quiet moment. It becomes clear that his humor was never a lack of intelligence, but a shield.
This emotional turn leads to Drax’s most fitting transformation. Instead of dying in battle or continuing endlessly as a warrior, he chooses to stay on Knowhere and raise the rescued children. In doing so, he becomes something he never thought he could be again: a father. That decision completes his arc from vengeful killer to protector and caregiver.
Dave Bautista later admitted he felt genuine relief about how it all ended. After appearing in seven Marvel films, he believed the character was allowed to leave on the highest possible note. The story wasn’t rushed, and the journey wasn’t cheapened for shock value.
In the end, keeping Drax alive wasn’t just the safer option—it was the braver one. Instead of death, he was given peace. And for a character built on loss, that quiet resolution turned out to be the most powerful ending of all.
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