Dave Bautista won't play Bane in DC reboot

Dave Bautista won't be playing Bane in the DC universe.

The 54-year-old actor has previously admitted his desire to take on the role, and fans thought the opportunity could well arise after Bautista's 'Guardians of the Galaxy' director James Gunn took charge of DC Studios - alongside Peter Safran - but the star insists Bane should be portrayed by a "younger and fresher" actor.

He said: "I have had conversations with James about that but I think the direction he's leaning in, completely rebooting that whole universe, he's starting from scratch and starting younger and fresher and I think you need to do that."

Bautista insists he "understands" the need for a younger face to portray the character, and doesn't believe he would "bring justice" to the role at this point in his career.

He added to Insider: "I think for the DC Universe to be revived, you need to start from scratch, and I think you need to start with younger actors.

"You need to start to plan for the next 15 years, and I just don't think you can do that with me. And I understand that. And, also, I have to say that I appreciate that because I don't want to play a character that I can't bring justice to it.