Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, and Chris Evans have already bid goodbye to the MCU. At least for now. When James Gunn-directed Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 releases in theaters, it will close off the Guardians trilogy. But apparently, not every character will get a happy ending this time.
Dave Bautista has already declared that he won’t reprise his role as Drax anymore. There are also rumors that Rocket won’t survive the film either. Now, another star has confirmed that this will be the last time they play their character onscreen.
Another Marvel Hero Departs The Superhero Franchise
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Zoe Saldana confirmed that she will appear as Gamora for the last time in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The site also reported that Saldana’s character was almost killed in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Here’s what the outlet wrote:
“Bautista has been vocal about this being the end of the Guardians line for him, and Saldaña feels the same. The actress had expected to play Gamora in only one movie, and Gunn almost killed her off in Vol. 2. ‘I don’t think this is the end for the Guardians. It is the end for me, for Gamora,'”
The actress said that she thanked James Gunn on her last day of filming for all that he had done for her. Saldana said, “I thanked James for just his time and his patience and his guidance and his friendship.” The Avatar actress isn’t the only Marvel star to bid goodbye to the superhero franchise. Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. and Black Widow star Scarlett Johansson also aren’t returning.
Robert Downey Jr. And Scarlett Johansson’s MCU Return Possibilities
In an interview with Gwyneth Paltrow on The Goop Podcast, Scarlett Johansson laid to rest all questions and rumors about her MCU return. She stated that her time as Black Widow was over. As per Johansson:
“I’m done. The chapter is over. I kind of did all that I had to do… Also, coming back and playing a character again and again like that over a decade of time is such a unique experience… [Kevin Feige] is such a lover of cinema and storytelling. He really is a fan… I was like 26 years old. I was single; it was fun.”
While Robert Downey Jr. hasn’t given any statements outright but Stephen Broussard, a Marvel Studios Executive, hinted that the Iron Man actor’s return isn’t set in stone. He said in an interview with io9:
“After these first 10 years of Marvel storytelling, torches are being passed, like with Robert Downey Jr. no longer being [on the] table and stuff like that. So it was kind of like a new generation stepping to the forefront which, again, has always happened in the comics.”
However, fans still can’t help but hope that the actors will reprise their roles one final time for the rumored multiversal crossover film, Avengers: Secret Wars. But whether that happens or not remains to be seen.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is releasing on 5 May 2023.
