Dave Bautista on Channeling Clint Eastwood for IN THE LOST LANDS: "He's Always Going to Be My Gold Standard"

Dave Bautista is no stranger to larger-than-life roles, but with the upcoming fantasy-western, In the Lost Lands, he’s playing a cowboy. The character is described as a rugged drifter navigating a treacherous, monster-filled world.

When it came to embodying the essence of this character, he looked to Clint Eastwood. Bautista told GamesRadar+:

"I always look to Clint Eastwood. You know, I love Clint Eastwood. When I think about cowboys, when I think about westerns, I think Clint Eastwood."

From his quiet intensity to his piercing gaze, the role carries shades of the legendary actor and the characters he’s played over the years. Bautista says the character "clearly [mimics] Clint Eastwood's demeanor as a cowboy."

The actor added: "He was a man of few words. I like that. Clint Eastwood acts with his eyes. He's a very subtle actor who doesn't have to do much with his body to convey a lot. And so as far as you know, cowboys go, Westerns go, he's always going to be my gold standard."

While In the Lost Lands isn’t a straight-up western as it blends fantasy and horror elements, throwing witches and werewolves into the mix, director Paul W.S. Anderson saw its western DNA immediately.

Anderson said: "I had also wanted to make a Western for a long time, so this was a great opportunity for me to kind of indulge in that. And I know Dave really appreciated that as well."

The film, based on a short story by Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin, and follows the powerful witch Grey Alys (Milla Jovovich) as she ventures into the Lost Lands in search of a dangerous magic that can turn humans into werewolves. With Boyce as her guide, the journey quickly spirals into a brutal fight for survival against both man and beast.

In the Lost Lands rides into theaters on March 7.