Guardians of the Galaxy Director James Gunn's Ultimate Casting Secret Finally Revealed

Summary

Director James Gunn originally wanted Zoe Saldaña to play Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy, and she was the only actor from his original pitch that made it into the movie.

Saldaña's portrayal of Neytiri in Avatar greatly influenced her ability to bring complexity and strength to her role as Gamora, making her an ideal choice for the character. Her onscreen dynamic with Chris Pratt and her ability to convincingly portray two distinct versions of Gamora further establish her as one of the top actresses in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Director James Gunn has disclosed the original choice he had in mind for a certain Guardians of the Galaxy actor who ultimately made their way into the Marvel Cinematic Universe film. The conclusion of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 marked the end of the journey for the cosmic team that was introduced in the 2014 installment, as the initial Guardians of the Galaxy disbanded and Rocket has taken charge of a new version of the team. While all the actors in the Guardians of the Galaxy series brought their own unique qualities to the MCU, there was one actor whom Gunn desired from the very beginning.

In Marvel Studios' Assembled: The Making of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 documentary, Gunn unveiled that the only actor from his original pitch for the movie to Marvel was Zoe Saldaña, who portrayed Gamora. Gunn explained that he presented Guardians of the Galaxy to Marvel with a visual reference book he had prepared, along with his choices for the cast. Regarding his casting decisions, Gunn confessed, "none of those actors from that book ended up playing the characters, except for Zoe Saldaña, whom I had met and admired right from the start."

When I initially approached Marvel with my idea for 'Guardians of the Galaxy,' I presented a compilation of visual references and character suggestions in the form of a thoughtfully curated book. This book included various images and detailed descriptions of the characters, along with my personal recommendations for the ideal actors to portray them. Surprisingly, except for Zoe Saldaña, whom I instantly connected with and ultimately cast, none of the actors I suggested from that book ended up embodying the characters.

Zoe Saldaña Was Perfect For Guardians Of The Galaxy’s Gamora

Saldaña is the only casting choice from Gunn that made it into one of the best MCU movies, which is quite intriguing. However, understanding why the director initially chose Saldaña for the role of Gamora is fairly straightforward. Prior to her appearance in Guardians of the Galaxy, Saldaña had already portrayed the female lead in the highest-grossing film of all time, 2009's Avatar.

Her experience as Neytiri in Avatar proved to be immensely valuable in her portrayal of Gamora. Neytiri, being one of the strongest warriors of the Na'vi and also the spiritual leader of her clan, aided Saldaña in embodying Gamora. In addition to being the most skilled hand-to-hand fighter in the Guardians of the Galaxy, with Drax being the strongest, Gamora also assumes the role of the team's conscience throughout her tenure in the MCU.

The relationship between Gamora and Star-Lord played a significant role in the first Guardians of the Galaxy film and the entire franchise. Zoe Saldaña's dynamic onscreen chemistry with Chris Pratt was truly remarkable, and her casting as Gamora was crucial for the success of the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy. Additionally, Saldaña's versatility was evident as she flawlessly portrayed two distinct versions of Gamora. Ultimately, Saldaña's casting in Guardians of the Galaxy ranks among the finest in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.