‘Lioness’ Star Zoe Saldaña Reveals Why She’s Not Ready to Star in Another Taylor Sheridan Show

Taylor Sheridan’s television universe has become something of a revolving door for A-list talent, with actors regularly hopping between his various Paramount+ dramas once they’ve proven themselves in one. It’s turned into an unofficial rite of passage for anyone lucky enough to land a role in his orbit.

That trend has made ‘Lioness‘ star Zoe Saldaña one of the more notable holdouts, given how deeply entrenched she’s become in her own corner of Sheridan’s world. After three seasons playing CIA operative Joe McNamara, she’s carved out a role that leaves little room for wandering elsewhere.

That’s exactly why Saldaña says she isn’t ready to sign on for another Sheridan series anytime soon. “I think that Joe McNamara and ‘Lioness’ is all that I can handle at this time,” the actress tells PEOPLE when asked whether she’d consider crossing over into one of Sheridan’s other shows.

Part of that hesitation comes down to sheer workload, since Saldaña isn’t just starring in the Paramount+ spy thriller but also serving as an executive producer on it. “I’m number one on the call sheet. I am first one in, last one out,” she explains. “I am prepping months before anybody ever is able to prep. So it’s already a lot of work for me.”

Despite ruling out a crossover for now, Saldaña had nothing but praise for Sheridan himself, crediting him for writing complex, boundary-pushing characters and staying deeply invested in his actors’ performances. She also suggested their working relationship has given Sheridan a clear sense of exactly what she brings to a project.

“The good takeaway that I’m grateful for is that he knows that I’m reliable, just like Joe is,” she says, adding that Sheridan sees her as honest, tough as nails, and vocal and opinionated. “I have my views, and I come with all heart, all brains, all muscle at all times,” she adds, before concluding simply, “So, no, I think I’m good here at ‘Lioness.'”

That kind of loyalty stands out in a franchise where crossovers have become increasingly common. Saldaña’s own ‘Lioness’ costar Michael Kelly has already ventured further into Sheridan’s broader television universe, showing just how normalized these transitions have become among the ensemble casts populating his shows.

Saldaña’s comments also touch on uncertainty surrounding ‘Lioness’ itself, as she says she isn’t sure whether a fourth season is in the cards. Still, she expressed pride in how demanding and transformative Joe’s storyline became throughout the show’s third season, suggesting she’s satisfied with where the character has landed regardless of what comes next.

That mix of pride and uncertainty captures where Saldaña seems to be at this stage of her ‘Lioness’ run, fully committed to the role she’s built without any urgency to expand her footprint elsewhere in Sheridan’s catalog. Given how much of herself she’s poured into producing and starring in the series simultaneously, it’s an understandable stance for an actress already juggling one of television’s most demanding roles.

For now, fans hoping to see Saldaña pop up in another corner of Sheridan’s ever-expanding lineup will have to keep waiting, as she seems firmly focused on seeing Joe McNamara’s story through rather than starting over somewhere new. Whether that changes down the line likely depends on where ‘Lioness’ itself goes from here.

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