Rejected Gamora Role Over a 'Talking Tree'? Before Zoe Saldaña a Very Different Actress Nearly Played Thanos’ Daughter

Before Zoe Saldaña became the fierce and beloved Gamora in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, the role was offered to another well-known Hollywood actress — Amanda Seyfried. Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the Oscar nominee opened up about turning down the opportunity, fearing that the film might become Marvel’s first box office flop.

"I was really scared of the idea of being stuck and painted a different color because of the amount of time [it takes]," Seyfried recalled. "It was a giant opportunity. I had just met James [Gunn] in person. He is wonderful… I definitely got the offer for it and I mulled over it for a couple days."

Seyfried went on to explain that several factors influenced her decision — not just the heavy makeup, which reportedly would require sitting in a chair for over four hours a day — but also the filming schedule, which would have taken her to London for half the year. At the time, she opted instead to star in A Million Ways to Die in the West with Seth MacFarlane, a project she felt more aligned with.

But it wasn’t just about logistics. Seyfried admitted she had serious doubts about the movie itself. "Let’s also remember that being a part of the first Marvel movie that bombs ain’t good for your career," she said. "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."

Of course, Seyfried’s prediction couldn’t have been more off. Guardians of the Galaxy became a massive hit in 2014, grossing over $773 million worldwide. Saldaña’s Gamora would go on to appear in two sequels and multiple Avengers films, including the record-breaking Infinity War and Endgame.

Still, Seyfried has no regrets. "I was at a precarious moment in my career and I didn’t want to suffer for the work," she said, referring again to the makeup and green screen-heavy production. "I had done some green screen stuff and it wasn’t my best or my cup of tea then. I don’t regret anything. I made that decision for myself. It was good for me then and it’s good for me now."

What could’ve been a major turning point in her career became instead a story of trusting her gut — even if the gamble didn’t pay off the way she expected.