The star-studded ensemble of Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy" almost welcomed a different celebrated face among its ranks. On the March 20th episode of the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast, Amanda Seyfried unveiled the reasoning behind her decision to decline the role of Gamora in the Marvel cinematic universe. Sharing her thoughts on the Thursday show, she admitted that, at the time of the offer, she perceived the original 2014 film as a risky venture.
"Joining the first Marvel movie destined to flop isn't conducive to one's career," she confessed. "I harbored the notion that, with a talking tree and a talking raccoon as its stars, it would become Marvel's first major misfire, rendering Chris Pratt and me unemployable in Hollywood. Clearly, I was mistaken."
Despite passing on the role, Seyfried held nothing but admiration for the film's director, James Gunn. "He's a genius, a joy to be around, and an exceptional filmmaker who can turn any project into gold," she told podcast host Josh Horowitz. "But I was consumed by fear. My career was on a tenuous precipice, and I wasn't eager to endure hardships for the sake of a role."
A significant factor that deterred Seyfried from embracing the character was the arduous makeup process required to portray a green alien. "The prospect of being immobilized and painted a different hue was daunting, especially considering the lengthy hours the 'X-Men' cast endured," she recounted. "I was training with the same instructor who prepared numerous 'X-Men' actors, and their experiences left quite an impression."
Additionally, Seyfried was hesitant to relocate to London for six months out of the year for filming. Moreover, she had her sights set on another project that piqued her interest. "I had my heart set on another movie with Seth MacFarlane titled 'A Million Ways to Die in the West,'" she disclosed. "It seemed like a golden opportunity."
Ultimately, Seyfried confessed that films requiring extensive makeup and special effects simply aren't her cup of tea. "I've dabbled in green screen work, but it wasn't for me, and I have no regrets about my decision," she affirmed. "I made the choice that was right for me at the time. It suited me then, and it suits me now."
Reflecting on the Marvel offer, Seyfried believes everything unfolded as it should have. "I also think Zoe [Saldaña], Chris, and everyone involved in the film had an absolute blast, and it worked wonders for them," she said. "I'm thrilled for them, and I'm glad I trusted my instincts."
The role of Gamora eventually went to Saldaña, 46, and the movie became a colossal success, raking in over $772 million worldwide. The recent Oscar winner portrayed Thanos' anti-hero daughter in "Guardians of the Galaxy" (2014), "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" (2017), "Avengers: Infinity War" (2018), "Avengers: Endgame" (2019), and "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" (2023).
Saldaña has since confirmed she won't reprise her "Guardians" role in future Marvel endeavors. However, she harbors hope that the character will return in a new avatar, thanks to the ever-expanding multiverse of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. "I keep repeating this – I'm eagerly anticipating what's next for Gamora," Saldaña shared with Variety last month. "I sincerely hope they haven't written her off, and I'd love to see a woman of color or a woman with special needs step into her shoes next. That would be truly incredible."
