Zoe Saldaña is best known for her lead roles in the Avatar and Guardians of the Galaxy films. Both franchises are known for their action and heart, and in retrospect, Saldaña says she wishes she had realized the depth of her Marvel character in Guardians of the Galaxy sooner.
The actress recently joined Variety’s Tiana DeNicola for a game of “Know Their Lines”, where she expressed a bit of regret over not fully understanding Gamora’s arc in the Marvel Cinematic Universe while she was filming Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame with the Russo Brothers. She explained:
“I wish I could go back and reshoot what Gamora was going through in the ‘Avengers’ movies. I was not quite understanding what the Russo Brothers [were doing]. They’re excellent filmmakers and the opportunity they gave me was of a lifetime.
“To highlight Gamora in such a way in their films is something I’ll always be grateful. I wish I could go back and redo it so I could push a little harder because it was such a great opportunity to play a daughter having issues with a dad and whether or not she’s having this opportunity to reconciliate or to simply just walk away.
“That would’ve been a great opportunity had I been a little more aware of it then.”
She went on to talk about joining Marvel, saying: “I know it’s a Marvel movie, and we don’t like to use words like ‘deep’ and ‘Marvel’ in the same sentence, but I like to, and I take great pride in knowing that I was a part of great films that cater to a younger audience and that inspires a younger audience.”
She added: “What [James Gunn] was doing was something really special. We were supposed to be these rejects that came with childhood traumas and disabilities and mental issues.
“He gave these characters space to be loved and to find a family within their friendship. It was a really important film now that I look back on it.”
Saldaña does not see herself going back to Marvel after 2023’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, but she does see a path forward for a new iteration of Gamora on the big screen.
“Let it be a brown girl to play Gamora,” Saldaña said in her Variety cover story. “Give that opportunity to a woman of color and see what the new Gamora is going to bring to the table. Like I brought [‘Star Trek’s’] Nyota Uhura to the table with Nichelle Nichols’ blessing.”
I think that she did a great job in the role, and brought a lot of heart and nuance to the character. While I wouldn’t be opposed to a new Gamora down the line, I think whoever takes it on will have big shoes to fill.
