Well folks, this is one of those Hollywood “what ifs” that feels like a multiverse moment in itself — “Amanda Seyfried as Gamora?” Cue the record scratch. Cue the green paint. Cue the Marvel fans spiraling.
That’s right. On a recent episode of the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, Seyfried revealed that she “turned down” the now-iconic role of Gamora in “Guardians of the Galaxy” — a part that ended up being played, flawlessly and ferociously, by Zoë Saldaña. And while the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become a cinematic juggernaut (to the tune of “$772 million” just from “Guardians” alone), Seyfried’s reasoning at the time was… surprisingly relatable.
She was scared. Not just of being painted green for months on end (although that too), but of the whole thing flopping. Seyfried said she thought “Guardians” — with its talking raccoon and sentient tree — would be “Marvel’s first bomb”.
And honestly, back in 2013, it “did” sound like a bit of a gamble. Chris Pratt as a leading man? A sci-fi comedy with deep-space misfits? A walking, talking tree that says “one sentence”? Studios have greenlit weirder things, sure, but betting your career on it? That’s a leap.
She passed — and chose to do “A Million Ways to Die in the West” with Seth MacFarlane instead. A comedy with considerably less body paint and a filming schedule far away from London.
Seyfried says she doesn’t regret it, and even now, she sticks to her guns: green screen and CGI-heavy blockbusters just aren’t her thing.
Still, this is one of those roles that defined an era. Saldaña’s Gamora appeared in “four” massive Marvel films and became a cornerstone of the cosmic storyline — a green-skinned, sword-swinging, emotionally layered powerhouse.
And now? Saldaña says she’s done with the character, but she hopes Gamora lives on — maybe even played by a woman of color or someone with special needs. Talk about passing the torch with purpose.
Seyfried, meanwhile, keeps racking up an eclectic resume — from “Mamma Mia!” to “The Dropout” to the new Peacock series “Long Bright River”. She’s not hurting for accolades or opportunities. But wow — just imagine a timeline where “Mean Girls’” Karen Smith joined the Avengers.
Somewhere out there, in the Marvel multiverse, Amanda Seyfried’s Gamora is saving the galaxy… while still wondering if it’s going to rain.
