Zoe Saldaña has no plans to join another Taylor Sheridan series, saying the demands of leading “Lioness” leave no room for a second one.
The Oscar winner, 48, plays CIA operative Joe McNamara and also serves as an executive producer on the Paramount+ spy thriller. Asked about crossing into Sheridan’s expanding television universe, she told People the role is “all that I can handle at this time.” She described a workload that begins months before cameras roll. She is first on the call sheet, the first to arrive on set and the last to leave. Taking on another Sheridan production, she said, is beyond what she can picture.
Her stance contrasts with a common pattern in Sheridan’s productions, where actors move freely between his shows. Her “Lioness” co-star Michael Kelly, who plays CIA Deputy Director Byron Westfield, has joined the cast of “Landman” for its third season. Saldaña said Kelly would be first in line to return if the spy drama gets a fourth season. She cannot picture another actor in the part.
The future of “Lioness” is unsettled. Season three ended September 20 with the revelation that Aaliyah Amrohi, played by Stephanie Nur, orchestrated Joe’s abduction. Saldaña told the outlet she has not heard whether Paramount+ will order more episodes and does not know if the story has more to tell.
She spoke warmly of her relationship with Sheridan, who wrote every episode of the first season. Her work on the show, she said, has shown him she is reliable, honest and tough, and vocal about her opinions. She has described the role as the hardest of her career. Saldaña has said she initially turned down the part, even though Sheridan told her he had written it with her in mind.
Fellow cast member Laysla De Oliveira, who plays operative Cruz Manuelos, has said Sheridan can change scenes on the spot during filming, a habit that adds to the pressure on the lead.
The series premiered July 23, 2023, followed by a second season on October 27, 2024. Nicole Kidman, Morgan Freeman, Jill Wagner and Dave Annable also appear. Neither Paramount+ nor Sheridan has announced a renewal.
