MANILA – Filipino-American actor Dave Bautista feels fortunate to be given a chance to reprise his role as Drax in the Marvel Studios movie “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.”

“Everybody was expecting one thing, and we gave them another. It makes it more interesting. It’s easy just to be the big guy who’s always growling at people and intimidating people. We’ve seen it a million times. But when you get the same guy who looks the same way but just says the most ridiculous things that make you laugh, it makes him more interesting,” he said in a statement.

In the sequel, Drax gets a new friend, Mantis, a new character played by Pom Klementieff.

“It’s hard to think that Drax would have some innocence to him but he really does, and it comes out in this film. That’s in the connection he has with Mantis. There’s a lot of innocence in both characters. They’re almost like two kids who find each other and become playmates,” he said.

Bautista said Drax and Mantis just “connect on a certain level that they can’t connect with anybody else.”

“They’re both suffering from some pain and learning new things and new feelings, new experiences. They’re going through that together and that’s where the connection is,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bautista could only come up with good words when asked to describe working with lead actor Chris Pratt once again.

“On a personal level, I think everybody involved on this film will agree that we just love him,” Bautista said. “He’s just such a good dude; a good, kind-hearted person. I can't say enough good things about him. He is what you see.”

Bautista said there is nothing superficial or pretentious about Pratt.

“He’s just got a great energy about him and he's a very positive person. And that all trickles down. When you get number one coming to set who’s always in a good mood, it’s hard to be that guy who is in the bad mood or complaining,” he said.

The same good words go for “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” director, James Gunn.

“It’s great because the writer is there and the director is there, all in one person. Drax is the vehicle for James Gunn’s twisted, witty sense of humor. I love when I’m shooting and delivering stuff that I can hear James off in the distance laughing because I know that it is what he wanted,” he said.

Bautista said this makes him feel really good because “I love giving him (Gunn) what he wants.”

Aside from the “Guardians” movies, Bautista was also in the James Bond film “Spectre.”

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” will open in Philippine theaters nationwide on April 26.