Amanda Seyfried reveals why she turned down Guardians Of The Galaxy (2025)

Amanda Seyfried went into detail about why she turned down the roleGamora in the blockbuster film Guardians Of The Galaxy, opposite Chris Pratt, more than a decade ago.

While promoting her new Peacock series Long Bright River, the actress dished about the many opportunities she been blessed to have had over her career.

And when it came to the topic of ones that almost happened, Seyfried got honest about the opportunity that came along with starring on the original 2014 superhero film, directed by James Gunn, and based on the Marvel Comics.

She admitted to feeling it was a risk at the time the role was offered to her, during an interview onHappy Sad Confusedpodcast on Thursday, March 20.

'Being a part of the first Marvel movie that bombs ain't good for your career,' she shared with host Josh Horowitz.

'I thought that because this was about a talking tree and a talking raccoon that it was gonna be Marvel's first bomb and that Chris Pratt and I would never work again. I was wrong.'

The Allentown, Pennsylvania native never considered the possible role ofGamora, which ultimately was played byZoe Saldaña, a risk due to the work of Gunn, who co-wrote the screenplay along with helming the project.

'[He’s] a genius and he's fun and he’s a wonderful filmmaker, and he can make anything work,' she said of the filmmaker. 'But I was way too scared. I was at a precarious moment in my career, and I didn't want to suffer for the work.'

Other reasons that went into Seyfried's decision to pass on the role included the intense makeup process for playing a green alien.

'I was really scared of the idea of being stuck and painted a different color because of the amount of time that 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, she explained.

On top of that, the Oscar nominee didn't want to have to relocate to London, England for the six month shoot, especially since she had another a role lined up in Seth MacFarlane's A Million Ways To Die In The West, that she felt was more in tune with her interests.

TheWestern comedy film starring MacFarlane, Charlize Theron, Giovanni Ribisi, Neil Patrick Harris, Sarah Silverman, and Liam Neeson would go on to receive mixed reviews while earning$87.2 million against a $40 million budget.

As for Guardians Of The Galaxy: it went on to become a blockbuster smash, grossing a whopping $773.4 million globally while spending a net of$195.9 million on the project.

The recent Oscar winner and Lioness star has since gone on to play Gamora in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019) and Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023).

Despite all the success of the superhero films Seyfried still stands by her decision to listen to her intuition and not take on the role.

'I had done some green screen stuff, and it wasn't my cup of tea, and I don't regret any decision that I made,' she stated. 'I made it for myself in the moment that I made it. It was good for me then, and it's good for me now.'

In fact, theMean Girls actress couldn't be happier for everyone involved in Guardian Of The Galaxy, feeling secure in the belief that it all worked out just as it should have.

'I also think that Zoe [Saldaña] and Chris and everybody who’s a part of that movie are having the best time and it worked for them, and I love that. And I love that I was able to stay with my gut.'

While reflecting on her professional career that dates back to 1996, Seyfried was asked about the moment or job that she felt she had truly made it as an actor.

'I knew I had gotten into a sphere when I was in Mama Mia!' she told Horowitz. 'And when Mama Mia ! was huge I was getting more opportunities from that.'

She continued, 'And over the years the opportunities were still there but they're different, and they evolve as you evolve all depending on the choices that you make. But also the fact that you evolving and getting older and are attracted to different things.

'I'm lucky that I still have a lot of opportunities and now it feels like I've solidified some kind of place in that people trust me as an actor and respect as an actor.'

Most recently, Seyfried decided to expand her acting reach by playing a police officer as the lead role incrime drama miniseries Long Bright River alongsideNicholas Pinnock.