Zoe Saldaña portrayed Gamora in the MCU between 2014 and 2023, and embarked on many adventures with her Guardians of the Galaxy family.

Zoe Saldaña’s Gamora embarked on many adventures in Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, though she may not be returning to the MCU. Zoe Saldaña debuted as Gamora in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, and returned as the adoptive daughter of Thanos in James Gunn’s subsequent Guardians of the Galaxy sequels, and appeared in Phase 3’s Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. Zoe Saldaña’s work in the MCU, as well as her role in James Cameron’s Avatar franchise, has contributed to her becoming one of the highest-grossing actors of all time, but her time in the MCU may be over.

James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 marked the end of the original Guardians team’s storyline, leaving the future of many popular MCU characters uncertain. Zoe Saldaña spoke to The Playlist in April 2024 and revealed that Gamora is “gone for good” for her, suggesting she won’t be reprising the role in the MCU’s future. Nevertheless, Gamora had a fantastic journey since her debut in Guardians of the Galaxy, which saw her become a crucial part of her new family, meet her demise at the hands of her adoptive father, and eventually return as a past iteration of herself.

I mean, so far, I think that she is [gone for good] for me, but I don’t think Gamora has gone for good. I would think it would be a huge loss for Marvel if they didn’t find a way to bring back the Guardians of the Galaxy. It’s just such a fan-favorite group of misfits, you know? And then at the helm, they had a voice like James Gunn’s writing — which is just so marvelous for and very specific for this genre. And it’s so great for this genre as well. So, I would be the first one in the first row to sort of celebrate when the Guardians of the Galaxy come back.

10. Gamora Is Adopted By Thanos As A Child & Trained Her To Be A Warrior (1990s – 2014)

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Little is known about Gamora’s childhood, though she was presumably born at some time during the 1980s on Zen-Whoberei. Gamora is a Zehoberei, and was with her mother during the Mad Titan Thanos’ attack on her planet. Once separated from her mother, Gamora was adopted by Thanos and raised to be the “Deadliest Woman in the Galaxy”, which saw Thanos put her in constant opposition with her adoptive sister, Nebula. Despite being Thanos’ favorite child, Gamora hated her upbringing.

Gamora Wasn’t Thanos’ Only Adopted Child

Gamora was only one of several children adopted by Thanos during his destructive conquest across the universe. Prior to obtaining the Infinity Stones, Thanos traveled from planet to planet, wiping out half the population on his quest for balance. Gamora was raised with some of the universe’s fiercest warriors as her siblings, including Nebula, Proxima Midnight, Corvus Glaive, Ebony Maw and Cull Obsidian, though formed a uniquely close bond with Nebula.

9. Gamora Founds The Guardians Of The Galaxy & Betrays Thanos (2014)

Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)

On one mission for Thanos, Gamora and Nebula were loaned to the Kree revolutionary Ronan the Accuser, who sought the Power Stone to wipe out Xandar and the Nova Empire. Gamora betrayed Thanos and Ronan, however, and teamed up with Peter Quill’s Star-Lord, Drax the Destroyer, Rocket Raccoon and Groot to escape the Kyln, recover the Power Stone and defeat Ronan. They established themselves as the Guardians of the Galaxy, and set out to embark on more adventures together.

Gamora Found The Family She Always Wanted With The Guardians Of The Galaxy

Since being taken from Zen-Whoberei, Gamora had always been searching for a new family. The closest thing she found was a tenuous sisterhood with Nebula, but she formed a much closer bond with the Guardians of the Galaxy almost immediately. Gamora related to the new Guardians of the Galaxy members on a much more personal level, and found mutual respect within the team, finally finding the family she had always wanted.

8. Gamora & The Guardians Of The Galaxy Meet & Kill Ego (2014)

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

Several months after their first battle against Ronan the Accuser, the Guardians of the Galaxy had been taking on smaller jobs, such as protecting batteries for the Sovereign. However, when Peter Quill’s biological father, the Celestial Ego, turned up on the scene, the dynamic between the team became strained. When the truth about Ego was revealed, Gamora and the Guardians of the Galaxy, including new love interest Peter Quill, teamed up to destroy him, further cementing their family unit.

Gamora Built A Stronger Relationship With Nebula In Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2

Throughout 2017’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Gamora and Nebula also became significantly closer, as Nebula herself had turned her back on her adoptive father. After sparring on Ego’s planet, Gamora and Nebula both realized that all they ever wanted to be was real sisters, rather than siblings in competition. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 marked a huge progression in their relationship that persisted throughout their next adventures together.

7. Gamora & The Guardians Of The Galaxy Meet Thor & Learn Of Thanos’ Plan (2018)

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Unfortunately, Gamora and Nebula didn’t embark on many more adventures together, as the team learned of Thanos beginning his quest to collect the six Infinity Stones four years after the events of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Thor informed the Guardians about Thanos’ plan before the team split up, with Thor, Rocket and Groot heading to Nidavellir to forge a new weapon, and the rest of the team traveling to Knowhere to intersect Thanos before he obtained the Reality Stone. Unfortunately, the latter group were too late.

Gamora Was Pivotal To Thanos’ Infinity War Plan

Thanos had already acquired the Reality Stone by the time the Guardians of the Galaxy arrived on Knowhere. However, despite Peter Quill’s attempts to spare his partner, Thanos kidnapped Gamora and returned to his ship. Infinity War revealed Gamora was the only being in the universe who knew of the location of the Soul Stone, meaning Gamora was essential to Thanos’ quest.

6. Thanos Kills Gamora For The Soul Stone (2018)

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Thanos tortured Nebula to get Gamora to reveal the location of the Soul Stone, allowing the pair to travel to Vormir and meet the ghostly Red Skull. The Red Skull informed Thanos that the only way to collect the Soul Stone was to “lose that which you love.” In Thanos’ case, the only thing he loved was Gamora. Thanos sacrificed his own daughter to obtain the Soul Stone, marking the tragic end of Gamora’s story in the MCU.

Gamora wasn’t the only hero to die for the Soul Stone, as Natasha Romanoff sacrificed herself so that Clint Barton could obtain the Soul Stone during Avengers: Endgame’s Time Heist.

Gamora’s Death Had A Huge Impact On Star-Lord & The Guardians Of The Galaxy

News of Gamora’s demise reached the members of the Guardians of the Galaxy after Thanos made his way to Titan. There, he came into opposition with the Avengers and the remaining Guardians, and while the heroes were close to recovering the Infinity Gauntlet, news of Gamora’s death sent shockwaves through the group. In a fit of rage, Peter Quill attacked Thanos, interrupting the heroes’ plan, and ultimately allowing Thanos to defeat them.

5. Gamora’s Variant Meets 2023’s Nebula & Travels To The Future (2014)

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

While the original version of Gamora died during Avengers: Infinity War, an earlier version of the character from 2014 joined the MCU during Avengers: Endgame’s Time Heist. On this daring mission, Nebula and War Machine traveled to Morag in 2014 to retrieve the Power Stone, but Nebula inadvertently connected to her 2014 self, revealing the Avengers’ plan to the Mad Titan. This allowed the 2014 variant of Gamora to travel to 2023 with her adoptive father and sister, who planned to attack the Avengers.

Gamora Was Already Planning To Betray Thanos During The Avengers’ Time Heist

Gamora had other plans, however, as she was already planning on betraying Thanos at the time of the Time Heist. These events took place in the days before Gamora and Nebula were loaned to Ronan the Accuser, which would’ve been Gamora’s opening to abandon her life and begin afresh. Unfortunately, this Gamora wouldn’t find the Guardians of the Galaxy, but she was still freed from Thanos.

4. Gamora’s Variant Fights Thanos During The Battle Of Earth (2023)

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

The fact that Gamora was so close to betraying Thanos at the time of Avengers: Endgame’s Time Heist meant that it didn’t take much convincing for her to turn her back on Thanos during the subsequent battle. Gamora joined forces with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes during the Endgame’s Battle of Earth, helping to battle her adoptive father, sister, and their armies. This battle ended with Tony Stark using the Infinity Stones to eliminate Thanos, but Gamora thankfully survived.

How Did Gamora Survive Tony Stark’s Infinity Stones Snap?

While the rest of Thanos’ army was obliterated following Tony Stark’s Avengers: Endgame snap, Gamora managed to walk away from the battlefield. This was detailed in a deleted scene, though was confirmed to be the case during 2023’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. It seems as though the fact that Gamora turned her back on Thanos, and helped to battle his legions in the Battle of Earth, is what saved her life.

3. Gamora’s Variant Joins The Ravagers (2023)

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

Gamora’s fate was left uncertain following Avengers: Endgame, though 2022’s The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special revealed that the Guardians hadn’t been in contact with her since the Battle of Earth. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 revealed that Gamora made her way to the Ravagers, and formed a new family with the hardened Ravagers, rather than one with the Guardians. This version of Gamora had never been softened by her time with the Guardians, so she was a perfect fit for the Ravagers.

Gamora’s Ravager Family Has A Guardians Of The Galaxy Marvel Comics Connection

The Ravager crew that Gamora finds herself becoming a member of consists of several characters in Marvel Comics’ original Guardians of the Galaxy from 1969. Stakar Ogord, Martinex and Mainframe were all featured in Marvel Comics’ original Guardians of the Galaxy. This team was teased at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and it was satisfying to see Gamora join their ranks.

2. Gamora’s Variant Battles The High Evolutionary With The Guardians Of The Galaxy (2025)

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

The Ravagers and the Guardians of the Galaxy joined forces in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which saw Gamora team up with her old family to infiltrate the High Evolutionary’s Orgoscope. While Gamora was only supposed to help the Guardians get into Orgocorp, she found herself traveling with the Guardians throughout their entire journey, learning more about her former life, and starting to show signs of becoming her former, softer self. Gamora even helped in the final battle against the High Evolutionary.

The Guardians Of The Galaxy Line-Up Changes Completely After Vol. 3

Following the High Evolutionary’s defeat and the safe recapture of all his experiments, the Guardians of the Galaxy team decided to disband. Peter Quill passed the position of Captain to Rocket Raccoon before returning to Earth. Mantis departed to forge her own path, while Drax and Nebula left to focus on building Knowhere’s new society. This allowed a new Guardians of the Galaxy team to be established.

The MCU’s new Guardians of the Galaxy team consists of Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Kraglin, Cosmo the Spacedog, Adam Warlock and Blurp, and Phyla.

1. Gamora’s Variant Returns To The Ravagers, But Her Future Is Uncertain (2025)

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

Instead of remaining on Knowhere with her sister, Gamora decided to return to the Ravagers following the battle against the High Evolutionary. However, she left with a greater understanding of herself, a stronger bond with the Guardians, and a sense of closure with Peter Quill. Gamora’s new Ravager family embraced her with open arms, proving that she had once again found the family she had been searching for her entire life, though this was a bittersweet revelation.

Zoe Saldaña Wants Gamora To Continue Without Her

While Zoe Saldaña has confirmed that she likely won’t be returning to the MCU to portray Gamora, she may have created the opportunity for Gamora to be reinvented. Saldaña noted that she doesn’t think Gamora is “gone for good,” and thinks it would be a “huge loss” for the Guardians of the Galaxy not to return. This creates the chance for Gamora to return to the MCU in some way, shape, or form.