Zoe Saldaña has made it clear that she has no plans to expand her presence within writer-producer Taylor Sheridan’s sprawling television universe. While many actors frequently jump between Sheridan’s various Paramount+ dramas, Saldaña is drawing a firm line due to the heavy workload required by her current series, Lioness.
In a recent interview with PEOPLE, the Oscar-winning actress explained that playing CIA operative Joe McNamara while also serving as an executive producer leaves her with zero spare time for additional projects. “I think that Joe McNamara and Lioness is all that I can handle at this time,” Saldaña stated.
Unlike actors who drop in for guest spots or single-season arcs, Saldaña noted the immense physical and administrative effort tied to leading the spy thriller. Because she carries the primary responsibility for the show, her schedule is packed long before filming officially begins.
- Call Sheet Position: She is number one on the call sheet, meaning she is consistently the first person on set and the last to leave.
- Early Preparation: She begins intense character and project preparation months ahead of standard pre-production schedules.
- Dual Roles: Balancing acting responsibilities with executive producer duties creates a massive time sink.
“I can’t imagine me taking on more of a Taylor Sheridan world,” Saldaña added. Despite declining to cross over into other Sheridan projects like Landman or Yellowstone spinoffs-a path recently taken by her Lioness co-star Michael Kelly-she expressed deep gratitude for her working relationship with the creator. She believes the rigorous collaboration has proved to Sheridan that she is dependable and tough.
“The good takeaway that I’m grateful for is that he knows that I’m reliable, just like Joe is,” Saldaña said. “I have my views, and I come with all heart, all brains, all muscle at all times. So, no, I think I’m good here at Lioness.”
As for the future of the Paramount+ hit, the series wrapped up its third season recently, but a potential fourth season has not yet been officially confirmed by the network. Saldaña admitted she is currently unsure where the story could travel next if it were renewed, but she remains entirely focused on the corner of the Sheridanverse she has already built.
