Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista Were Perfect Brothers for The Wrecking Crew—Here’s Why

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The upcoming Amazon Studios film, The Wrecking Crew, pairs action stars Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa as hilariously flawed brothers. Bautista stars as James and Momoa as Jonny, and the story follows them as they reluctantly reunite in Hawaii to uncover the truth behind their father’s unexpected death.

TopMob recently spoke with director Angel Manuel Soto of The Wrecking Crew. He shared why Dave Bautista (known for playing Drax in Marvel movies) and Jason Momoa (famous as Aquaman in DC films) are such a surprisingly good fit as on-screen brothers.

As a movie buff, I always find it fascinating to learn about the actors behind the characters. Soto pointed out that what we see on screen is often a heightened version of who they actually are as people. Apparently, Dave is a pretty reserved and kind guy, while Jason is much more outgoing and energetic – a total contrast! It’s cool to see how those personalities translate to their roles.

Soto believes the combination of these two contrasting elements creates something truly compelling, particularly in stories involving conflict or drama. He explained that when these differences ultimately come together in a meaningful way, it makes the moment even more powerful.

TopMob recently interviewed Jonathan Tropper, the writer of The Wrecking Crew, as well as the show’s stars, Morena Baccarin (who plays Valentina) and Jacob Batalon (who plays Pika). You can find the complete interview below.

The Wrecking Crew lands in theaters on January 28, 2026.

The Wrecking Crew Director Explains Why Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa Make for Perfect Brothers

“Opposites Make a Very Powerful Magnet.”

  • TopMob: “The dynamic between Jason and Dave [was] very unexpected, but it works so well. So in your own words, why were they the perfect actors for this role, and that brother dynamic?”

Angel Manuel Soto explained that the idea of Dave and Jason working together made sense, especially if you’ve watched their show ‘See’. He feels the script really captured their personalities, but in an amplified way. Dave is naturally quiet and gentle, while Jason is much more energetic and outgoing.

I believe that contrasting elements, much like oil and water, create something truly unique, particularly in stories with conflict or drama. When these differences ultimately come together in a meaningful way, it’s incredibly powerful. Even with distinct personalities, people can still collaborate to achieve a common goal. Historically and naturally, these kinds of opposing forces have a strong, magnetic pull.

Jonathan Tropper, the author of The Wrecking Crew, previously collaborated with Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista on the Apple TV+ series See. He explained why their on-screen chemistry as brothers translated so well to a comedic setting.

I’ve worked with both of these actors before, and they’ve even played brothers on my show, ‘See.’ That experience allowed me to get to know them well, and what people don’t always see is how genuinely funny and comedic they are when they’re not filming.

What really makes their relationship work, beyond simply liking each other, is how different Jason and Dave are. Jason is very outgoing and boisterous, while Dave is much more reserved and quiet. Their contrasting personalities create a great balance – Jason’s energy is tempered by Dave’s calm and disciplined nature.

When writing the script, we focused on how these two characters playfully antagonize each other, but in different ways. Jason tends to tease and insult with drawn-out jabs, while David is much more direct and uses quick, cutting remarks. It’s funny because David can deliver a devastating put-down in just a few words, whereas Jason might relentlessly tease someone for a long time. This difference really frustrates them – David wishes Jason would be quiet, and Jason wishes David would just say something. That dynamic is really at the heart of their interactions.

Morena Baccarin on Putting Jason Momoa In His Place for The Wrecking Crew

“It Was So Fun.”

  • TopMob: “Morena, you play Valentina, and you get to put Jason [Momoa] in his place several times throughout this movie. What was it like getting to do that and just getting to play that dynamic with him?”

Morena Baccarin described working with her co-star as a lot of fun. She explained that she often plays a more reserved character in her personal life, but this role allowed her to be much more outgoing, matching her co-star’s energetic and bold personality. She really enjoyed the challenge of portraying a relationship where it seemed unlikely the two characters would even work together.

It’s strange, but you can see a connection between them, and it’s almost appealing. They’re very different people, yet there’s definitely something going on. It’s like they have a complicated relationship filled with both affection and dislike. He’s clearly in love with her, but she feels conflicted – it’s a real love-hate dynamic.

Writer Jonathan Tropper weighed in on creating Valentina, giving lots of praise to Morena Baccarin:

Jonathan Tropper explained that Jason initially envisioned his character having a strong, captivating Latina girlfriend. He admitted that if he’d known Morena Baccarin would play the role, he would have expanded the part, possibly even including her earlier in the story. He described writing this character as a lot of fun, seeing her as his weakness. Ultimately, Tropper believes this relationship humanizes the character, even though ‘Jonny’ would likely be a challenging partner.

Jacob Batalon on Working With The Wrecking Crew’s Stunt Team

“The Entire Stunt Team Is Really Great.”

  • TopMob: “There is a really fun parkour scene with your character. How much of that did you get to do? What was it like filming that chase scene?”

Let me tell you about that car stunt! Honestly, I mostly just… got up behind the car. I did visualize the whole thing, which got me moving (laughs), but the real hero was the incredible stunt team. My stunt double put in a ton of work, and it was amazing to watch him just go for it. Seriously, the whole team is fantastic. I definitely won’t be claiming any credit for that one – it wasn’t me!

The full interview can be viewed below:

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2026-01-26 20:10