While star Jason Momoa’s latest film Aquaman is poised to become the first DCEU film to earn at least $1 billion at the worldwide box office, unused concept art has surfaced of the actor for a very different superhero role he was previously linked to Drax the Destroyer.
Former Marvel Studios Head of Visual Development Charlie Wen has posted concept art of Jason Momoa as Drax on his Instagram account, illustrated before Dave Bautista was cast in the Marvel Cinematic Universe role. Featuring a leaner depiction of the Guardians of the Galaxy character, the rendering of Momoa as Drax sports a nasty facial scar and light stubble. In order to visually differentiate the character’s appearance from Wen’s previous work creating Kratos from the acclaimed God of War video game franchise, an alternate design has the character wearing a biker-style outfit complete with red shirt and black leather vest.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsTq8pFFLHb
Momoa had reportedly auditioned for Drax for 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy before filmmaker James Gunn cast Bautista to commercial success and critical acclaim. Bautista has since reprised his MCU role in 2017’s Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 and last year’s Avengers: Infinity War.
Shortly thereafter, Momoa was cast by Zack Snyder to appear in as DC Comics superhero Arthur Curry for a silent cameo in 2016’s Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice before his full introduction in 2017’s Justice League. While things worked for both Momoa and Guardians of the Galaxy, the concept art is an interesting look at what could have been.
In the meantime, fans can catch Momoa in his current superhero role as Aquaman in theaters now while Bautista is expected to reprise his role as Drax in April’s Avengers: Endgame.
