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Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldaña terminate up being the perfect choices to play Peter Quill and Gamora , as both their individual carrying into action and their on - filmdom chemistry resonate powerfully with the fandom . But casting the parts proved to be a substantial challenge . When Marvel ’s casting genius Sarah Finn first bring Pratt to director James Gunn ’s attention for the part of Quill , Gunn ignore the actor who was then known for being the lovable buffoon onParks and Recreation . Gunn switch his nous almost straight off after meet with Pratt and auditioning him for the part . Pratt was far from the producer ’ first choice to play Star - Lord , and a few actors were offered the role of Gamora before Saldaña was cast . Updated on December 5th , 2022 by Jordan Iacobucci : The Guardians of the Galaxy are back in natural action after an prolonged hiatus , bring back in exciting projects like the recentThe Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Specialand next yr ’s highly - anticipatedGuardians of the Galaxy , intensity 3 . With beloved grapheme like Chris Pratt ’s Star - Lord and Zoe Saldaña ’s Gamora eventually return for what may be their net appearances in theMarvel Cinematic Universe , some fans are looking back on who very well-nigh play these iconic part .
Star-Lord
John Krasinski
John Krasinski was in the running for several major MCU roles over the years , though many sports fan may not be aware that he was one of the first actors publicly reported to be considered for the function of Star - Lord ( according toDigital Spy ) . Ultimately , Gunn decided to go a different way , though the managing director did n’t annotate on Krasinski ’s audition process .
Krasinski excellently later appeared as Mister FantasticinDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessafter years of fan clamour to see the actor in the office . However , given that this Mister Fantastic belonged to a unlike cosmos , it remain unclear whether or not Krasinski will remain in the role for 2025’sFantastic 4reboot .
Joel Edgerton
In 2012,MTVreported that Joel Edgerton was being considered by Marvel Studios to originate the character of Peter Quill for the upcomingGuardians of the Galaxyfilm . While it does not appear that he quite fit Gunn ’s vision for the character , the actor was nevertheless a serious enough candidate for news to break of his considerateness .
Despite not being drift in the Marvel Cinematic Universe , Joel Edgerton has appeared in many successful filmssinceGuardians of the Galaxypremiered . Nevertheless , the actor still ask to land that one big function that will make him a household name .
Zachary Levi
Despite having already been roll as Fandral in the MCU’sThor : The Dark World , Zachary Levi auditioned for the part of Star - Lord in 2014’sGuardians of the Galaxy , though he did n’t make the shortlist .
Levi ’s delightfully goofy turn in DC’sShazam!is a sign that he believably would have made a great Star - Lord . However , given the contractual obligation attach to both parts , it is probably best that Levi did not get the role of Peter Quill , as viewers would have never dumbfound to see him shine inShazam !
Aaron Paul
A short ton of well - known actors read for the part of Peter Quill inGuardians of the Galaxy , let in Krasinski , Edgerton , Garrett Hedlund , and James Marsden . One of these actors was Aaron Paul , fresh off the groundbreaking five - season run of the critically acclaimedBreaking Bad .
Guardians of the Galaxywould have been a great career move for Paul followingBreaking Bad , though the histrion would have likely bring a very different Peter Quill to life in the process . While buff are still delighted to see him show up as Jesse Pinkman in various related to projects , Paul still seems to be on the hunt for his next bounteous role .
Eddie Redmayne
Eddie Redmayne was a base runner - up for the function of Peter Quill . Though the actor has yet to seem in a comic book picture show , he has try out for them before , including the part of Harry Osborn inThe Amazing Spider - Man 2(according toMovie Web ) .
While he has not land any of the comic book roles that he has auditioned for so far , Redmayne certainly has n’t been struggling to find work . presently , the Oscar achiever whizz in theFantastic Beastsseries of spin - offs , though this dealership may be on the rock following its poor boxful situation functioning .
Glenn Howerton
Some of the back - and - forth interaction between the Guardians finger more or less inspire by the semi - improvised bickering inIt ’s Always gay in Philadelphia , so it ’s scarcely surprising that the Gang ’s de facto leader , Glenn Howerton , was weigh for the role of Star - Lord .
Incidentally , Howerton ’s costar , Danny DeVito was one of the top choices for Rocket ( as perDigital Spy ) . While Chris Pratt and Bradley Cooper have give Quill and Rocket a playfulness rapport , it would ’ve been interesting to see Howerton and DeVito ’s well - established pane - tongued repartee fromIt ’s Always Sunnywould understand to the Marvel Universe .
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Joseph Gordon - Levitt was the first actorto be propose the role of Peter Quill . base on the boyish charm seen in motion-picture show like50/50,(500 ) Days of Summer , andThe Night Before , Gordon - Levitt likely could have made a pretty fantastic Star - Lord .
However , the actor rick down the role to asterisk inSin City : A Dame To Kill For . In hindsight , it ’s clear which of the two projection ended up finding more achiever at the box office — and with critics , for that affair — but the experience of working with Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller on a atavism to classical film noirs must have been a set of fun in itself .
Gamora
Gina Carano
According to a study fromGiant Freakin Robotin 2012 , former MMA fighter Gina Carano was among several actresses being considered for the role of Thanos ’s favorite girl Gamora . The actress was likely considered for her combat chops , given her long story in the arena .
While Carano did not at last get the role of Gamora , she did manage to snag the part of Cara Dune inThe Mandalorian , one ofDisney+ ’s bestStar Warsseries . While Carano was rumored to be receiving her own spinoff projection , recent argument unfortunately resulted in her termination from any futureStar Warsprojects .
Adrianne Palicki
Adrianne Palicki , who has a long story with failed superhero projects , admit an unairedWonder Womanpilot wherein she play the chief role , was also rumor to be in the running game for the role of Gamora as early as 2012 , though this inspired piece of casting news program never came to fruition .
Palicki did eventually grapple to pick up a successful superhero part , portraying Agent Bobbi Morse , a.k.a . Mockingbird , in the 2nd and third seasons ofAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.before being compose out for prepare up a spinoff starring Morse and Nick Blood ’s Lance Hunter . While the spinoff was never picked up , some fan have n’t given up hope ofseeing Bobbi Morse return in the gravid MCU .
Olivia Wilde
Before Saldaña was barf as Gamora , the producers of the film approached Olivia Wilde about the part . However , she turned it down because theGuardiansschedule clashed with her filmingBetter live Through Chemistry .
In the interim , Wilde has become a director , helming the impeccable high school day comedyBooksmart , and she more recently the buzzworthyDon’t Worry Darlingstarring several MCU alums , including Florence Pugh , Harry Styles , and Gemma Chan .
Rosario Dawson
Rosario Dawson auditioned to play Gamora during the film ’s former phase of developing ( accord toFilm Buff Online ) . TheAhsokaactress was not especially well - get it on at the prison term , which perhaps contributed to the more seasoned Saldaña winning the role .
Dawson eventually start on to play Claire Temple in the Netflix Marvel evidence , appearing in almost every series of what has now become known as the Defenders Saga . As sealed character from this recession of the MCU make their return , the chance of Claire Temple ’s own return have never been higher .
Thandiwe Newton
Prior to Saldaña ’s casting , Thandiwe Newton auditioned for the persona of Gamora and was thereby one of the more high - profile actresses deal for the part , having appear in several other dealership films in previous years .
Career - wise , it was probably for the best that Newton did n’t get the part , because it might ’ve forbid her participation in HBO’sWestworld . Her Emmy - winning performance as self - aware A.I. Maeve in that series has been some of the most revelatory acting in late memory .
Elizabeth Banks
concord toMTV , Elizabeth Banks was reportedly one of several actress who auditioned to play Gamora . She had previously play the minor — but integral — role of Betty Brant in Sam Raimi’sSpider - Mantrilogy . While she has yet to play a superhero , Banks has primal role in several non - superhero franchises , likePitch Perfect , The LEGO Movie , andThe Hunger Games .
Like Wilde , Banks has be active into directing latterly , helming a segment ofMovie 43,Pitch Perfect 2 , and the recentCharlie ’s Angelsreboot . The actress / director sure is n’t hurting as a result of having been passed up for a role inGuardians of the Galaxy .
Amanda Seyfried
Amanda Seyfried revealed that she was offered the role of Gamora inGuardians of the Galaxy , but passed on the go ( harmonise toIndiewire ) . She ’s not a huge Marvel fan and think back an interview with Jennifer Lawrence in which she described the physical requirements of playing a downhearted - skinned superhero in full - dead body prosthetics .
Since she had no actual connection to the stuff , Seyfried decided it was n’t deserving the effort of getting up extra betimes every dawn to be paint greenish head - to - toe , a decision on which she may not have been entirely incorrect . NEXT:10 Avengers Who Could well Beat Namor In A Fight
