Amanda Seyfried Thought GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Would Ruin Her Career: “Obviously I Was Wrong”
Amanda Seyfried had a chance to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy, but she was convinced the movie could be a disaster. A talking raccoon, a talking tree, and a bunch of weird characters running around in space? She wasn't buying it, and she feared signing on could seriously damage her career.
Of course, the 2014 Marvel movie became a massive hit, earning $773.3 million worldwide and turning its unlikely team of heroes into some of the MCU's most popular characters.
During a recent Q&A with the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, Seyfried opened up about why she rejected the role of Gamora, the adopted daughter of Thanos, which ultimately went to Zoe Saldaña. According to the actress, passing on the movie seemed like an obvious decision at the time.
She explained: “Like, they’re talking, the tree and the raccoon are talking to each other. And also, they’re all in space. Yeah. And I was just like, I this will ruin my career if this is bad. And there’s a high chance that this could be bad. I mean, obviously I was wrong.”
It's pretty funny looking back at that decision now, especially considering how successful Guardians of the Galaxy became. The movie certainly didn't ruin Saldaña's career! If anything, playing Gamora gave her career another huge boost and made her an even bigger part of blockbuster movie history.
It's interesting how some actors just can't see the potential in certain projects. What sounds ridiculous on paper can end up becoming something audiences absolutely love. In this case, Seyfried saw a potentially embarrassing superhero movie, while Marvel and director James Gunn were putting together something that would become one of the studio's biggest successes.
Still, Seyfried doesn't regret turning down the opportunity. She explained that she made the decision based on what she wanted for herself and the family she hoped to have someday. The demanding production schedule and physical requirements of a Marvel movie simply weren't appealing to her.
Spending hours in a makeup chair to become a green-skinned alien was another major turnoff, particularly because she already struggles with sitting still. She also isn't a fan of heights or performing stunts.
On top of that, Seyfried explained that she doesn't enjoy having to “pretend the entire world” when acting. She prefers working with something tangible and said she needs “something to hold on to.”
When asked whether she'd consider making a superhero movie today, her answer was still no, unless it involved superheroes doing a lot of walking.
“Like Ann Lee was a stretch. Like I had to move a lot,” she explained, referring to her physically demanding role in The Testament of Ann Lee.
While she's perfectly comfortable tackling emotional performances, Seyfried admitted that choreographed movements are “other-level stuff.” She did acknowledge, however, that physical performance can help actors connect more with their characters.
It's hard to fault Seyfried for knowing what kind of work she enjoys, even if her original prediction about Guardians of the Galaxy was spectacularly wrong. She made a decision that felt right for her, and Saldaña ended up with a career-defining Marvel role.
Still, it's a fun reminder that sometimes the strangest movie ideas turn out to be the biggest hits. A talking raccoon and a walking tree might sound like a terrible career gamble, but in the right hands, they can become movie icons.
Do you think Amanda Seyfried would have made a good Gamora?