Guardians Of The Galaxy: Where Gamora Was In Phase 4 (& Where She Is In Phase 5)

Warning: This post contains spoilers for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Zoe Saldaña returned as Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, but she was curiously missing during the MCU's Phase 4. Marvel Studios' Avengers: Endgame saw Thanos’ Infinity War snap reversed, but while most of the fallen heroes returned, those who died before Thanos' snap weren't so lucky, including Gamora. Endgame, however, brought Gamora back thanks to the Time Heist, allowing her 2014 self to journey to the present. After Thanos' defeat, Gamora’s MCU future was left uncertain, as while the Guardians of the Galaxy returned in Thor: Love & Thunder and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, Gamora didn't join them.

The 2014 variant of Gamora returned in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 after being convinced by Nebula in Avengers: Endgame to betray their father, Thanos. Since this version of Gamora had never met the other Guardians of the Galaxy, she had no connections to the MCU team or any of the franchise's other heroes, leading to her instead being shown as a Ravager in Phase 5. This made sense for her character progression, as she had only recently stopped working as a mercenary for Thanos. Here's everything viewers need to know about where Gamora was during the MCU's Phase 4 and 5 and where she might appear next.

Marvel Theory: The Planets Gamora Could Have Gone To

Originally from the planet Zen-Whoberi, Gamora was adopted by Thanos after he massacred half the planet's population in his quest to bring balance to the universe. In Gamora, Thanos saw his eventual successor, so he raised her to be a formidable warrior before sacrificing her during Avengers: Infinity War to claim the Soul Stone. One theory suggested that, following her departure in Avengers: Endgame, the 2014 variant of Gamora could have been compelled to return to Zen-Whoberi, getting back to her roots and helping the population in the wake of Thanos' attack on both her home planet and the universe in Avengers: Infinity War.

Another option for Gamora's whereabouts in the time between Avengers: Endgame and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 could be that she traveled to the "Garden." Following Thanos' snap in Infinity War, the Mad Titan retired to live the rest of his life in peace on this planet, and Nebula's knowledge of his whereabouts implies that Gamora - his favorite daughter - also knew of this plan. Despite showing Gamora as a Ravager in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the Phase 5 film did nothing to explain where she had been prior, so either of these ideas could be possible, though it's likely that this question will never be answered.

Why Gamora Wasn't In Thor Love And Thunder

guardians of the galaxy in thor love and thunder

After leaving together at the end of Avengers: Endgame, the Guardians of the Galaxy appeared in Thor: Love & Thunder with the titular God of Thunder, though Gamora was missing. This was for the better, as Gamora's appearance would have distracted from Love & Thunder's narrative. As the version of Gamora now in the MCU is the 2014 variant, she would have had no reason to join the Guardians in Love & Thunder, and her absence allowed the character to settle into the wider universe, refocusing on her story in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The Guardians' appearance here also revealed that they were still searching for their missing member.

Where Gamora Is In Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3

Despite her absence in Thor: Love & Thunder, Gamora returned in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, reluctantly joining the team on their mission to save Rocket's life and end the High Evolutionary's tyranny. Although the Guardians' appearances since Avengers: Endgame have shown them searching for Gamora, Vol. 3 revealed that Nebula had been in contact with her sister and that Gamora has now joined a faction of the Ravagers led by Sylvester Stallone's Stakar Ogord. Gamora initially unites with the Guardians of the Galaxy to help them infiltrate Orgocorp but ends up joining them, albeit against her will, for their final battle against the High Evolutionary.

In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Gamora proves herself to be vastly different from the woman who Chris Pratt's Peter Quill, a.k.a. Star-Lord, fell in love with. In this film, Gamora lives up to her title as the "Deadliest Woman in the Galaxy" and is even willing to sacrifice Rocket to avoid the High Evolutionary's wrath. Even so, Gamora softened over the duration of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, being able to understand Groot's language by the end of the adventure, and even sharing a moment of connection and understanding with Peter Quill, before rejoining her new Ravager family, where she seems to fit much more naturally.

Marvel's What If...? Had A Lost Gamora Episode

Marvel Studios' What If...? in Phase 4 explored the life of another variant of Gamora, one who was curiously shown sporting Thanos' trademark armor from Avengers: Endgame and wielding his same double-sided sword. While this Gamora joined the Guardians of the Multiverse, her introductory episode was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, though many have speculated that this episode could be titled, "What If Iron Man Landed On Sakaar After The Battle Of New York?" as Tony Stark's Iron Man was seen wearing Sakaaran armor. This episode will see Gamora earn the titles of "Survivor of Sakaar" and "Destroyer of Thanos," so it is an exciting prospect for What If...? season 2.

MCU Projects Gamora May Appear In Next

gamora looking at the polaroid in gotg 3

After Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, it's likely that the 2014 variant of Gamora won't be seen again. She was happy to return to her Ravager family, perfectly concluding her story arc and showing that she found happiness differently than her main-universe self. However, Gamora is expected to return in What If...? season 2, and she could appear in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars. It's also possible she could show up in future episodes of I am Groot on Disney+, and if Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 4 ever happens, a version of the character may return then, though this hasn't been confirmed.