Starlord, Rocket, Groot, Drax, and Mantis appeared in two MCU Phase 4 projects, but Gamora didn't reunite with them until Guardians of the Galaxy 3.
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
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.
