Guardians of the Galaxy star and MCU staple Zoe Saldaña has confirmed that she is “done” playing Gamora following the release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Speaking with Total Film, the Marvel star, who has been a part of the franchise since 2014, declared that she will remove the green paint and walk away from the MCU good. Though she is open to someone else stepping into the role of Gamora in the future.

“I think the time has come for me to step down, and for the next generation to come forward. The one thing I would not want is for Gamora to go away. She’s been such an impactful character for fans and especially female fans, and young female fans.”

With Saldaña’s blessing, this means that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is not necessarily the last time we will see the character. Though it’s unlikely that Marvel Studios would recast the role anytime soon, the actress does leave the door ajar for Gamora later on down the line.

“I would love for Marvel to figure out a way to find that next generation of actors that can incarnate these characters, and give them this immortality that fans generationally keep coming back to.”

But for Saldaña, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will be the last time that audiences see her take part in the major franchise, feeling that it is now time for her to move on.

“But me, per se? I mean, I signed up for one, and I got 10 years. Lucky me, man. I have no complaints. And I’m moving on.”

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Zoe Saldaña is Open to a Role in James Gunn’s DCU

While she may now be done with the MCU, Saldaña is not necessarily done with comic book movies. The actress said that is open to working with Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn again and would be excited to join his slowly emerging DCU should she ever get a phone call.

“If (Gunn] were to call, I would have his back any day, because, you know, it would be fun. It’s always fun working with him…I think he’s going to do something really great there, and I’m excited.”

Saldaña is far from the only long-time MCU star to declare that are done with the franchise. Black Widow and Avengers star Scarlett Johansson recently revealed that she too is finished with the comic book movie series saying, “I’m done. Chapter is over. I did all that I had to do. Also coming back and playing a character again and again, over a decade of time, is such a unique experience.”

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 meanwhile picks up with the gang still reeling from the loss of Gamora. Our beloved band of misfits is settling into life on Knowhere, but it isn’t long before their lives are upended by the echoes of Rocket’s turbulent past.

Written and directed by James Gunn, and starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Sean Gunn, Chukwudi Iwuji, and Will Poulter, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is scheduled to be released on May 5, 2023, as part of Phase Five of the MCU.