Zoe Saldaña recently joined Variety’s Tiana DeNicola for a game of “Know Their Lines” and 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.
“I wish I could go back and reshoot what Gamora was going through in the ‘Avengers’ movies,” Saldaña said. “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.”
Saldaña joined the MCU as Gamora in James Gunn’s 2014 tentpole “Guardians of the Galaxy.” She reprised the character in two “Guardians of the Galaxy” sequels and the “Avengers” films.
“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,” Saldaña said about joining Marvel.
“What [James Gunn] was doing was something really special,” she added. “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.”
Watch Saldaña’s full “Know Their Lines” video below.
