Dave Bautista has become a major force at the box office after transitioning careers from WWE legend to movie star. With appearances in high-octane movies like Guardians of the Galaxy and Thor: Love and Thunder, staying in shape is crucial for actors like Bautista.
On July 16, the Dune: Part Two star stopped by Live with Kelly and Mark to discuss his new movie My Spy: The Eternal City and his workout habits when preparing for movies. He explained that after filming M. Night Shyamalan's 2023 thriller Knock at the Cabin, he had to get back in shape.
"I put on all this weight for Knock at the Cabin. I was really big, like over 300 pounds," he recounted, per People. When it was time for his next project, he needed some extra help.
"I was struggling to lose the weight, so I brought a trainer—my buddy Jason Manly—over to Budapest with me while I was filming Dune," he said. Jiu-jitsu became the secret weapon that helped him drop the rest of the weight he was trying to get rid of.
"We did nothing but grapple, like for hours. And so I started shedding the weight off and I figured 'I’ll just stick with it so I’ll get my brown belt,'" he remembered. Now, having a trainer with him is an essential part of filming anything.
"I just shed about 50 more pounds," he said of the extra weight lost via jiu-jitsu. While it marked an exciting milestone, there is a downside that Bautista doesn't enjoy.
"I was trimming down, and I’ve sacrificed a lot of muscle. But I’m okay with it, because I just feel more comfortable," he admitted.
My Spy: The Eternal City streams on Prime Video starting July 18.
