What Color Is Drax? Dave Bautista Reveals the Not-So-Simple Answer

By Aeron Mer Eclarinal Updated:
Dave Bautista Drax Marvel character

Drax is one of the funniest members of the Guardians of the Galaxy, but the cosmic hero is also one of the dangerous characters as well.. The MCU hero is portrayed by former WWE Champion Dave Bautista, with the actor making his debut in 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy. Drax was introduced as someone who has a personal vendetta against Ronan the Accuser and Thanos for the death of his family, but ultimately, his soft side became a focal point of his character arc as he grew closer with the rest of the Guardians. 

One of the notable aspects of Drax that made headlines over the years is Bautista's behind-the-scenes preparation for the role. The Marvel star previously opened up about the tedious process, saying that the makeup team "created a sort of Drax 'shirt' for his arms and upper body" to make it less daunting. 

Bautista even made a joke that it would be "miserable" for him if Marvel Studios decided to greenlight a Drax spinoff series on Disney+, with him describing it as a “make-up nightmare.” 

Now, a special preview of the tricky makeup process of bringing Drax to life has been revealed by Bautista. 

Drax's Skin Color (Breakdown)

Dave Bautista, who portrays the MCU's Drax, shared the answer to the burning question behind the Guardian of the Galaxy's skin colors.  

Drax Colors
Marvel

The Marvel veteran revealed that there is a five-step process of applying different prosthetics to his body, showcasing a total of five colors to achieve Drax's perfect look: 

Drax' Colors
Instagram

Step 1: Gray Beige
Step 2: Pistachio Green
Step 3: Black
Step 4: Dark Gold
Step 5: Candy Red

Bautista also shared the following caption while tagging his Guardians' prosthetic team: 

"Finally got a solid answer to the question “what color is Drax?” Green? Grey? Blue? Kind of... Swipe left to find out courtesy of #TeamDrax @ms675 [Matt Sprunger], @mrnibs77[Robin Pritchard], @jonmoorefx [Jon Moore]."

Dave Bautista Settles the Skin Color Debate 

Dave Bautista as Drax, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Marvel

Dave Bautista's latest reveal about Drax's intriguing skin colors should finally address the confusion of fans.

Back in April 2021, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 director James Gunn cleared the confusion about Drax's skin color, confirming that it is gray, but he also clarified that Drax can "take on a blue or green tint under some lights:"

"This is not the first time a couple has come to me in serious trouble disagreeing over Drax's color in the MCU. He is gray, but, like most gray things, he can take on a blue or green tint under some lights. But he is definitely gray."

Now, Bautista added more information about Drax's skin color, showcasing a complete breakdown of bringing the character's colors to life. 

For someone who's not good with colors, this detailed step-by-step process could make any fan appreciate the tedious process of creating Drax. This also cements the idea that this procedure is not to be taken lightly, as it involves the hard work of Bautista and the film's makeup and prosthetic crew. 

In Marvel Comics, Drax is traditionally depicted as green. However, bringing the character to life in live-action makes things complicated, thus leading to the use of all the different colors mentioned above. 

It is unknown if Drax will receive a costume upgrade in his upcoming adventure in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, but it seems that the character's topless design is here to stay, especially after this latest skin color breakdown.

Fans can catch Drax in this July's Thor: Love and Thunder and in the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special sometime in December 2022. 

- In This Article: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Release Date
May 05, 2023
Platform
Theaters
- About The Author: Aeron Mer Eclarinal
Aeron is a news/features writer and Content Lead for The Direct who has been working for the site since March 2020. From writing about the inter-connectivity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to having an extended knowledge about DC TV's Arrowverse, Aeron's expertise has since expanded into the realm of reality TV, K-drama, animated, and live-action shows from Netflix,  Disney+, Prime Video, MGM+, Peacock, Paramount+, and Max. When he isn't writing and watching all things MCU, Aeron is heavily invested with the NBA (go Celtics!) and occasionally watches thrilling matches in the WWE.