Zoe Saldaña has made it clear that her demanding responsibilities on the Paramount+ spy thriller Lioness require her full attention, leaving no room to expand into other projects within creator Taylor Sheridan’s expanding television universe.
After three seasons starring as CIA operative Joe McNamara-a role she also executive produces alongside Nicole Kidman-Saldaña explained in an interview that managing the demanding schedule of a lead actor is already a massive undertaking.
“I think that Joe McNamara and Lioness is all that I can handle at this time,” Saldaña shared. Detailing her day-to-day commitments on set, she emphasized the sheer volume of work involved in anchoring the series:
- Call Sheet Position: Saldaña is number one on the call sheet.
- On-Set Hours: She is consistently the first person to arrive on set and the last person to leave.
- Early Preparation: Her preparation begins months before anyone else on the production starts prepping.
“So it’s already a lot of work for me,” she added, noting that she simply “can’t imagine” taking on more of the Taylor Sheridan world right now.
Mutual Respect and Reliability on Set
Despite keeping her focus strictly on Lioness, Saldaña speaks highly of her collaboration with Sheridan. She credits the prolific creator with knowing how to write complex, multi-dimensional female characters who defy standard tropes.
“The good takeaway that I’m grateful for is that he knows that I’m reliable, just like Joe is,” Saldaña said, describing herself as honest, tough, and deeply invested. “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.”
Cast Crossovers and Future Seasons
While Saldaña is keeping her workload localized to a single series, her co-star Michael Kelly-who portrays CIA Deputy Director Byron Westfield-has already ventured further into Sheridan’s television catalog by joining the cast of Landman Season 3.
Reflecting with humor on Kelly’s expanding schedule, Saldaña joked that his new commitments cannot interfere with his duties if Lioness is picked up for a fourth season. “Michael can’t be going there and doing more work,” she said playfully. “If we do come back for season 4, we have him first.”
As for what lies ahead for Joe McNamara and the future of the show following the intense events of Season 3, Saldaña admits she is currently in the dark regarding any potential fourth-season storylines.
