Dave Bautista's Memorable Appearance on 'Smallville'
Discover Dave Bautista's lesser-known role in 'Smallville' before his Marvel stardom! Unveiling the intriguing connection between the DC series and the future MCU powerhouse
The Big Picture
Early in Dave Bautista's acting career, he was offered a role on the TV show Smallville, where he played Aldar, one of the show's most ruthless antagonists.
Bautista portrayed an escaped alien criminal named on Smallville, notorious for his lethal "Backbreaker" move, which he used to kill his victims.
Smallville was visionary in its casting choices, as it featured future actors who would later become part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, such as Dave Bautista, Evangeline Lilly, Cobie Smulders, and Adrianne Palicki.
In the entertainment industry, it is common for professional athletes, particularly wrestlers, to transition from the ring to the screen. Notable examples include John Cena, who portrays Peacemaker in the DC Extended Universe, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who played Black Adam. Another WWE star who has successfully made the leap to acting is Dave Bautista. While Bautista is now best known for his work in the Guardians of the Galaxy series, his acting career began with a role on Smallville.
Yes, before becoming a Marvel superstar, Bautista started his acting journey in an adaptation of DC Comics' Superman story set in the 21st century. Smallville, which aired from October 2001 to May 2011, followed the growth and development of a young Clark Kent (portrayed by Tom Welling) as he discovered and honed his superpowers. During his time on the show, Kent encountered numerous supervillains from various parts of the galaxy, including Bautista's character, Aldar. Despite appearing in only one episode during the sixth season, Bautista's portrayal of Aldar made a lasting impression as one of the most ruthless adversaries on the series. This recognition certainly paved the way for his future success.
In the town of Smallville, Kansas, a young Clark Kent faces the dual challenge of discovering his role in the world while honing his otherworldly abilities for the greater good. Amidst the trials and tribulations of adolescence, he navigates the typical struggles of a teenager in Smallville.
Release Date October 16, 2001Cast Tom Welling, Cassidy Freeman, Erica Durance, Justin HartleyGenres Drama, SuperheroSeasons 10
How Did Dave Bautista End up on 'Smallville'?
Bizarrely enough, Bautista wasn't the sole WWE star to make an appearance on Smallville that season. In a few subsequent episodes, Clark confronts an extraterrestrial fighter named Titan (loosely based on the DC Comics character of the same name), portrayed by none other than Glenn Jacobs aka Kane. Surprisingly, Titan becomes the first person that Clark ever kills (although he later feels remorse), challenging the negative reception Henry Cavill's Superman received in Zack Snyder's Man of Steel in 2013. In contrast, Welling's prototype Superman accomplished the feat back in 2007, and most were still pleased to witness his evolution into the iconic superhero by the end of the series.
However, according to Bautista in an interview with Wired, he stumbled upon acting with no prior intention to transition his career. "The Smallville opportunity was another one of those things WWE presented to me. At that point, I had absolutely no aspirations to pursue acting," he clarified. Nevertheless, he found himself on the Season 6 episode "Static," where he portrayed an escaped alien criminal from the Phantom Zone who, after Clark's mishap (as is often the case), lands on Earth. This Zoner swiftly reverts to his criminal ways, causing a trail of murders in Seattle, until Clark intervenes to halt his rampage.
