We’d heard the rumors that Zoe Saldana would play female lead Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy before, but—speaking for myself personally, here—I didn’t want to assume they’d come true lest I jinx that wonderful bit of casting.
Looks like my skepticism paid off, as the casting was not jinxed and Saldana has in fact been confirmed as Gamora. You’re welcome.
The actress had a few things to say at the Star Trek Into Darkness premiere about playing Gamora, “the deadliest woman in the galaxy” and eventual member of the eponymous Guardians, starting with “I’m gonna be green!”:
“I’m really looking forward to it. I just met [Guardians of the Galaxy director] James Gunn in person this week and I think that he’s the best director to be making this film. I wasn’t [aware of the comic] either and my sister was the one who told me about it! I think it’s always worked for me to learn as I go. The moment I get the job, that’s when I start doing the research and I end up falling completely in love with the franchise. I do know that I loved the script. I got along with James Gunn from talking to him on the phone and I love the cast selection that they have. Chris Pratt is gonna be an amazing Star-Lord, I can feel it.”
Speaking of Pratt as Star-Lord, Marvel honcho Kevin Feige had some encouraging things to say about his somewhat unexpected casting to Entertainment Weekly,
“He’s a hilariously frumpy, doofy guy in Parks and Rec, and he’s an incredibly kickass ripped guy in Zero Dark Thirty and that’s pretty awesome. He’s going to need that in Guardians. That’s a big range right there… One of the reasons Bautista got the part was because his banter, and ad libs, and screen tests with Pratt were awesome.”
The Bautista in question is wrestler-turned-actor Dave Bautista, who’s just been confirmed to play Drax the Destroyer. He’s not Jason Momoa, but I’ll deal. This movie’s giving us Zoe Saldana as a kick-ass warrior assassin, plus it’s our first Marvel movie with a female POC as one of the leads, which is pretty cool. Consider my ticket purchased.
(via: io9)
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