Zoe Saldaña has no plans to join another Taylor Sheridan series, citing the heavy time and physical demands of her lead and executive-producing role on the Paramount+ spy thriller Lioness.
Zoe Saldaña is drawing a hard line at her current assignment, even as other actors cross over between Taylor Sheridan’s various projects, which stretch from the Montana ranches of Yellowstone to the oilfields of Landman.
Saldaña Prioritizes Lioness Schedule
The 48-year-old actress stars as no-nonsense CIA operative Joe McNamara on the Paramount+ series, where she also serves as an executive producer. In a 2026 interview with People, Saldaña explained that the intensive scope of her character leaves no room for another project in Sheridan’s portfolio.
I think that Joe McNamara and ‘Lioness’ is all that I can handle at this time.
Zoe Saldaña, star and executive producer of Lioness, via People
Saldaña is first on the call sheet and begins preparation months before the rest of the cast. I am first one in, last one out
, she said.
Taking on another fictional world within Sheridan’s expanding television network is unimaginable given her current commitments. She praised the writer’s deep curiosity regarding government affairs, noting his extensive research educates the cast and creates a challenge where performers must either accept the bar he sets or quit.
Physical Demands Hit Peak in Season 3
Sheridan asked Saldaña to bulk up for a narrative arc in the third season, released in August, where Joe is abducted and tortured by unidentified agents before her team rescues her in the penultimate episode.
I didn’t even know if I was gonna be able to pull it off.
Zoe Saldaña, speaking to Entertainment Weekly
Saldaña has regularly faced skepticism regarding her ability to handle demanding combat scenes, often stemming from assumptions about her petite frame. She told USA Today that athletic training has remained a constant throughout her life and career, continuing even when she was pregnant with her children.
Ensemble Members Branch Out
Other members of the ensemble are branching out while Saldaña remains anchored exclusively to her role as Joe McNamara. She even joked that Kelly’s character, Byron Westfield, should remain a priority if the spy drama returns.
Paramount+ has not yet officially ordered a fourth season, leaving the fate of the series unconfirmed while viewers await word on whether Joe McNamara’s missions will continue.