It’s taken two decades, a galaxy-saving raccoon, a sandworm-ridden desert planet, and a few busted noses — butDave Bautistais finally getting his rom-com moment.
Paramount Pictures has picked upThe Romantic, a new comedy fromDeborah KaplanandHarry Elfont, with Bautistaofficially set to star.And for theGuardians of the GalaxyandDuneactor, it’s not just another gig — it’s the role he’s been manifesting for years.
“I’ve never had an offer to do a rom-com,” Bautista told Page Six in 2023. “I still have high hopes. I’ll just keep searching.” Looks like the search is over. Bautista has never fit the traditional mold of the romantic comedy lead — and he knows it.“I know I’m not your typical rom-com lead,” he admitted. “I’m a little rough around the edges. But I always, you know, I look in the mirror and I say, I ask myself, ‘Am I that unattractive? Is there something that unappealing about me that excludes me from these parts?’”
This poor guy. Bautista is a charismatic man with a soft-spoken, intelligent voice, and a huge affinity for dogs. Now, withThe Romantic, Bautista is flipping that narrative on its head — quite literally.
What Is ‘The Romantic’ About?
The film follows Francine London, a belovedbestselling romance author with a secret– she’s actually a six-foot-four man named Ed Schwenke. When Ed’s double life starts to unravel, he hires a woman with zero filter to pose as Francine at a romance fiction convention — all while trying to stay one step ahead of a jaded journalist who’s allergic to love and liars. Maximum Effort, under its first-look deal with Paramount, will produce alongside Bautista’s own Dogbone Entertainment. No director is attached just yet, but the project already has fans buzzing thanks to its fun hook and a long-overdue dose of genre subversion.
And this isn’t the only big movie coming up for Big Dace. He’s got a stacked slate ahead:Trap House, an actioner from Aura Entertainment;The Wrecking Crew, a buddy cop flickwithJason Momoafor Amazon MGM; and theZellner Brothers’ wild alien invasion comedyAlpha Gang. He was also recently seen alongsidePamela Andersonin the dramaThe Last Showgirl, earning strong notices for his more grounded performance.
Stay tuned to Collider for more updates onThe Romanticand the rest of Dave Bautista’s bucket list.
