Zoe Saldaña Says
The actress shared that her role as Joe in "Lioness" is all she can handle, and expressed uncertainty about the show's future.
Zoe Saldaña has indicated that her demanding role in Taylor Sheridan's "Lioness" might be the extent of her involvement in the creator's television universe. "I think that Joe McNamara and ‘Lioness’ is all that I can handle at this time," Saldaña told People in a recent interview. "I can’t imagine me taking on more of a Taylor Sheridan world."
Saldaña, who also serves as an executive producer on the Paramount+ series, described the commitment as significant. "I’m number one on the call sheet. I am first one in, last one out," she explained. "I am prepping months before anybody ever is able to prep. So it’s already a lot of work for me."
Despite the intensity, Saldaña expressed gratitude for her working relationship with Sheridan, noting his understanding of her as a performer. "I have my views, and I come with all heart, all brains, all muscle at all times," she said. "So, no, I think I’m good here at ‘Lioness.'"
When asked about the possibility of a fourth season, Saldaña admitted uncertainty following the show's third season finale, which revealed Aaliyah Amrohi (Stephanie Nur) as the orchestrator of Joe's abduction. "I don’t know if we’re able to go to a season 4," she told People. "I don’t know where he would take it."
In previous comments to Entertainment Weekly, Saldaña acknowledged the taxing nature of filming "Lioness" Season 3, stating, "It was very demanding, I’m not gonna lie. And I didn’t even know if I was gonna be able to pull it off." However, she expressed satisfaction with the direction Sheridan ultimately took her character's storyline.
Co-star Jill Wagner, who plays QRF leader Bobby, previously shared that Sheridan has a tendency to make last-minute changes on set, once requiring her to reshoot a scene using her non-dominant hand just minutes before filming. Wagner described Sheridan's approach as pushing actors "to run into the fire."
Laysla De Oliveira, who portrays operative Cruz Manuelos, echoed this sentiment, telling People that Sheridan "can change things on the spot" during production, requiring actors to be adaptable. "You have to have your head on a swivel and be able to do that," she said.
"Lioness" is available for streaming on Paramount+.