Amanda Seyfried has no regrets about turning down the opportunity to play Gamora in Marvel’s wildly successful “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise. Looking back, she stands by her decision, despite the franchise becoming a box office juggernaut. On a recent episode of the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, she opened up about her reasoning and the factors that influenced her choice.
The Thought Process Behind Saying No
When Seyfried received the offer to portray the green-skinned warrior in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), she didn’t jump at the chance right away. Instead, she took a few days to mull over the decision. “I got the offer for it and even milled over it for a couple of days,” she admitted.
One major factor that played into her choice? The idea of relocating to London for half the year. “I didn’t want to live in London for six months out of the year, for whatever reason,” she explained. At the time, she had her eyes set on another project—Seth MacFarlane’s comedy-western, A Million Ways to Die in the West. That film, in her eyes, felt like the right fit and a great opportunity.
Fear of a Marvel Flop
Marvel has built an empire on hit after hit, but back when Guardians of the Galaxy was still in its early stages, there was no guarantee it would be a blockbuster. Seyfried had real concerns about joining a potential misfire. “I thought that because this was about a talking tree and a talking raccoon that it was going to be Marvel’s first bomb,” she said candidly. She even feared that taking the role could jeopardize her career. “Chris Pratt and I would never work again,” she joked.
Of course, she couldn’t have been more wrong. The Guardians trilogy turned out to be one of the most beloved franchises in the MCU, raking in over $2 billion worldwide between 2014 and 2023. Not to mention, it helped solidify Chris Pratt’s place as a leading man and added yet another blockbuster role to Zoe Saldaña’s resume.
The Role That Went to Zoe Saldaña
Ultimately, the role of Gamora went to the talented Zoe Saldaña, who fully embraced the character. Saldaña appeared not only in all three Guardians films but also played a key role in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. As Gamora, she became an iconic part of the MCU, adding another massive franchise to her impressive list of credits, which already included Avatar and Star Trek.
No Regrets—It Just Wasn’t the Right Fit
Despite Guardians of the Galaxy exceeding expectations, Seyfried doesn’t look back with regret. At that time in her career, she felt that stepping into a major superhero role wasn’t the right move. “I was at a precarious moment in my career and I didn’t want to suffer for the work,” she shared.
One of her biggest reservations was working with heavy CGI and green screen technology, which she had already experienced and didn’t particularly enjoy. “I had done some green screen stuff, and it wasn’t my cup of tea,” she admitted.
But in the end, she stands by her decision. “I don’t regret anything, any decision that I made. I made it for myself,” she said confidently. “In the moment that I made it, it was good for me then and it’s good for me now.”
What If?
It’s always fun to imagine the “what ifs” of Hollywood. Had Seyfried taken the role, her career trajectory might have looked very different. Would she have found herself at the heart of the MCU, battling alongside the Avengers? Or would she have felt creatively stifled in the midst of all the CGI? While fans might wonder how she would have portrayed Gamora, Seyfried herself seems perfectly content with the road she chose.
At the end of the day, it all worked out. Seyfried has continued to build a strong, diverse career, earning critical acclaim and even an Oscar along the way. And Guardians of the Galaxy? Well, it became a pop culture phenomenon, with Zoe Saldaña bringing Gamora to life in a way fans adore.
Seyfried’s decision proves that sometimes, turning down a big opportunity doesn’t mean missing out—it just means choosing the path that feels right in the moment. And in Hollywood, where no two careers look the same, that’s just part of the journey.
Login