Amanda Seyfried turned down a lead role in 'Guardians of the Galaxy' because she thought it may bomb

• Amanda Seyfried ("Mank") turned down playing Gamora in "Guardians of the Galaxy."
• The actress told The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast she didn't think anyone wanted to see a movie "about a talking tree and a raccoon."
• Seyfried also said if you're a star and a giant film bombs, "Hollywood does not forgive you."
• "GotG" grossed over $772 million worldwide at the box office in 2014. A third film is currently in the works.

Amanda Seyfried said she turned down a lead role in 2014's hit "Guardians of the Galaxy" because, at the time, she wasn't sure it would be a success and in Hollywood she knew that could make or break an actor.

"I didn't want to be part of the first Marvel movie that bombed," Seyfried said on The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast on Friday. "I said, 'Who wants to see a movie about a talking tree and a raccoon?' Which is clearly - I was very wrong."

"The script was great, it was all based in not wanting to be 'that guy,'" she added of passing on the role of Gamora, which eventually went to Zoe Saldana. "Because if you are the star of a giant movie like that, and it bombs, Hollywood does not forgive you. I've seen that happen to people and it was a giant, giant fear and I thought, is it worth it?"

"Guardians" was a gamble for Disney. The film about a ragtag group of heroes was adapted from one of Marvel's most obscure comic books.

However, the film with the lovable tree and raccoon duo went on to gross over $772 million worldwide and become the third highest-grossing movie of 2014. The film has spawned a successful sequel - with a third movie in the works - and Baby Groot is perhaps one of Marvel's most popular characters now.

Seyfried said she also was wary of the idea of being in green makeup for six months, referencing Gamora's skin color. The actress said she heard of people spending more time in a trailer than on set. Seyfried previously said the same to MTV.

"Guardians of the Galaxy" special makeup-effects designer, David White, told Insider in 2014 it took two-to-three hours to turn Saldana into the assassin daily.

A third "Guardians of the Galaxy" movie is in the works with director James Gunn. Gunn previously finished the script, but is currently working on another superhero film, "The Suicide Squad," over at Warner Bros.