"It will ruin my career": Amanda Seyfried explained why she turned down "Guardians of the Galaxy" and missed out on a goldmine

Amanda Seyfried refused to play Gamora in "Guardians of the Galaxy" because she feared that the film's failure would ruin her career. At a SAG-AFTRA Foundation meeting, the actress admitted that the story of unusual heroes in space seemed like too risky an endeavor to her:

Doubts about the film's success were not the only reason for her refusal. Seyfried was also put off by long hours in the makeup chair, the need to perform stunts, and filming at heights. In addition, the actress was thinking about the family she wanted to create and preferred to maintain more freedom in choosing her work.

However, as time showed, fears about the film proved to be unfounded. The first "Guardians of the Galaxy" was released in 2014 and grossed about $773 million worldwide. The role of Gamora went to Zoe Saldaña, who played the character in all three parts, as well as in "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Avengers: Endgame". Moreover, participation in Marvel projects did not prevent Saldaña from developing her career outside the cinematic universe. She starred in dozens of projects, and in 2025 she received an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in the film "Emilia Perez".

However, Seyfried's own career also developed successfully after turning down Marvel. Her role in David Fincher's "Mank" earned her an Oscar nomination, and her portrayal of Elizabeth Holmes in the series "The Dropout" earned her an Emmy Award. According to the actress, she does not regret her decision to turn down the role of Gamora.