Batista, who is coming off his biggest year in Hollywood yet with several project in the works, said he's eager and impatient for what comes next. The Times talked about how he often addresses political or controversial topics on his Twitter account, and how he is aware that staying quiet on certain topics could mean a larger fan base for him. Batista said he's not interested in being one of those actors who make $20 million per film.
"That's just never going to be me, and that goes back to the feeling that I only need so much. I only need a certain level of security. I don't need to make $20 million a film. I don't even want $20 million a film. I wouldn't know what to do with it," he said.
Batista said he does want to be a great actor, which has nothing to do with being a movie star such as The Rock. Batista said he would not consider The Great One to be a great actor. He also said he's not interested in acting roles like Rock's Fast & Furious or John Cena's Bumblebee.
"Rock was, in a way, a movie star before he was even a movie star. There is something about him that's really special. I'd never take that away from him," Batista said of The Rock.
"Would I consider him a great actor? F--- no. I want good roles. I don't care about Fast and Furious or Bumblebee. ... That's not the kind of stardom I want. ... I want to be in Dune. I want to work with Denis Villeneuve. I want to work with Sam Mendes and Jodie Foster. I want to work with Academy Award winners. I'm proud to be a character actor. I want that respect and credibility and education."
Batista said he does not want to be compared to Rock and Cena. Everyone does it and he hates it.
"Do not compare me to The Rock or John Cena. Everyone does it," he said.
"Those guys are wrestlers who became movie stars. I'm ... something else. I was a wrestler. Now, I'm an actor."