Amanda Seyfried Reveals She Why Turned Down Gamora In Guardians Of The Galaxy: "Being A Part of The First Marvel Movie That Bombs Ain’t Good For Your Career"

Recently, Amanda Seyfried opened up about why she chose not to take on the role of Gamora in the 2014 MCU film Guardians of the Galaxy. Before Oscar-winner Zoe Saldaña was attached to the part, director James Gunn first offered it to Seyfried. The actress is known for a wide variety of roles, from comedies like Mean Girls to horror films like Jennifer’s Body to musicals like Mamma Mia! and Les Miserables. Her resume speaks for itself in terms of why she was considered for Gamora.

However, in an industry where many actors and actresses would love to star in a Marvel film, she said no. In an appearance on Josh Horowitz’ Happy Sad Confused podcast, Seyfried broke down the factors that led her to decline this “giant opportunity.“

The actress revealed that her mutual connection with other superhero actors informed the decision: “I was really scared of the idea of being stuck and painted a different color because of the amount of time the X-Men people had been… because I was working out with the same trainer that trained a bunch of people who were doing X-Men. I remember Jennifer [Lawrence] talking to me after each film.” She continued by explaining: “I had just met [Gunn] in person. He is wonderful. Apparently, someone said he didn’t remember, but it’s definitely true.”

Per Seyfried, she had “done some green screen work” and it “wasn’t [her] cup of tea.” On top of that, she “didn’t want to live in London for six months out of the year.” Seyfried added that she didn’t regret the decision she made, reminding listeners that hindsight is 20/20, and at the time, no one knew Guardians of the Galaxy would become a major hit. She explained:

Let’s also remember that being a part of the first Marvel movie that bombs ain’t good for your career. I thought that, because this was about a talking tree and a talking raccoon, that it would be Marvel’s first bomb, and me and Chris Pratt would never work again. I was wrong! But I was just being smart. It’s not brave.

Despite declining the part, Seyfried did praise Gunn’s work on Guardians of the Galaxy: “You know, what? James Gunn is a genius, and he’s fun, and he’s a wonderful filmmaker. He can actually make anything work, but I was way too scared.”

What Amanda Seyfried’s Guardians Of The Galaxy Comments Mean

Superhero Roles Aren’t For Every Actor

Though Gamora is the kind of role many actors would want, Seyfried had other priorities and career interests. The actress has played a variety of roles throughout her career, and being locked into a major franchise that has demanding requirements likely didn’t appeal to her. Seyfried herself said she was at a “precarious moment in [her] career” and “didn’t want to suffer for the work.“

It’s easy to view this with a modern lens and wonder how she could have possibly thought the film would flop. However, Guardians of the Galaxy was a more obscure Marvel property, and it features undoubtedly the most outlandish team in the MCU. By all accounts, the success of the film was a surprise.

Our Take On Amanda Seyfried’s Guardians Of The Galaxy Comments

Zoe Saldaña Was Perfect As Gamora

Amanda Seyfried as Rya Goodwin looking serious in The Crowded Room

Seyfried is a talented actress, but given her reluctance to take on the role, it’s for the best Saldaña was cast as Gamora. She herself agrees, having stated: “I don’t regret… any decision that I made. I made it for myself. […] It was good for me then, and it’s good for me now. […] I also think […] you know, Zoe and Chris, and everybody who’s part of that movie are having the best time, and it worked for them. And I love that. I love that I was able to, you know, stay with my gut.”

In the end, everything seems to have worked out. Seyfried didn’t put herself through a grueling process for a part she didn’t feel confident in, and Saldaña nailed it. Gamora is an essential part of what made Guardians of the Galaxy work, largely because she was well-cast.

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