Zoe Saldaña has made it clear: her days in Taylor Sheridan's sprawling television universe begin and end with Lioness. The actress, who stars as CIA operative Joe McNamara and executive produces the Paramount+ spy thriller, recently told PEOPLE that she has no intention of popping up in any of Sheridan's other shows, despite the trend of actors crossing over between his many projects.
"I think that Joe McNamara and Lioness is all that I can handle at this time," Saldaña said. It's a candid admission from one of Hollywood's busiest stars, and it speaks volumes about just how grueling it is to anchor a series that Sheridan himself has described as one of his most ambitious undertakings.
Saldaña didn't mince words about the workload. As the show's lead, she's the first person on set and the last to leave, and her preparation begins months before cameras even start rolling. "I'm number one on the call sheet. I am first one in, last one out. I am prepping months before anybody ever is able to prep," she explained. "So it's already a lot of work for me. I can't imagine me taking on more of a Taylor Sheridan world."
That world has grown exponentially in recent years, with Sheridan juggling Yellowstone and its spinoffs, 1923, Mayor of Kingstown, Tulsa King, and more. Several actors have moved between his series, but Saldaña's commitment to Lioness is all-consuming. Her character, Joe, is a senior CIA case officer who runs the titular espionage program, overseeing dangerous missions while struggling to maintain a personal life. The role demands both emotional depth and physical stamina, often putting Saldaña in the middle of intense action sequences.
Despite the exhaustion, Saldaña remains grateful for her partnership with Sheridan. "The good takeaway that I'm grateful for is that he knows that I'm reliable, just like Joe is," she 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."
Season 3 of Lioness proved to be Joe's most harrowing chapter yet, centering on her kidnapping by a old enemy and forcing her into the kind of peril her team usually faces. The season's intense storyline kept viewers hooked, and the show has continued to perform well on Paramount+. In fact, Lioness recently hit 200 days on Paramount+ Top 10, a testament to its enduring popularity.
However, the future of the series remains uncertain. Paramount+ has yet to renew Lioness for a fourth season, and Saldaña herself is in the dark about what comes next. "I don't know if we're able to go to a Season 4, I don't know where he would take it," she admitted. Given Sheridan's packed schedule and his lucrative deal with Paramount that runs through 2029, it's possible the show could continue, but nothing is guaranteed.
For now, fans can only hope that Joe and her Lionesses will return for more missions. The series has become a key part of Sheridan's legacy at the streamer, and its global audience continues to grow. But if this is the end, Saldaña has certainly left everything on the field. As she put it, she's given Lioness all her heart, brains, and muscle—and that's more than enough.
