Zoe Saldaña is declining another Taylor Sheridan show. The “Lioness” star and executive producer has made it clear she is not interested in joining another Sheridan-created series, and she is using the physical toll of Season 3 to explain why.
“I think that Joe McNamara and ‘Lioness’ is all that I can handle at this time,” Saldaña said in a 2026 interview with People. “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. So it’s already a lot of work for me.”
The Call Sheet Job
Saldaña plays Joe McNamara, the no-nonsense CIA operative who runs the top-secret Lioness program while taking part in high-stakes missions on the ground. She also serves as an executive producer on the Paramount+ series.
Her description of the workload is blunt. She arrives early and stays late, and she starts preparing months before anyone else does.
“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.”
Why Sheridan’s World Is Too Much
Saldaña’s refusal to join another Sheridan show is rooted in the demands of the work itself. Sheridan is known for preferring practical sets and effects on his shows, including “Yellowstone,” “Landman,” and “Lioness.”
“I can’t imagine me taking on more of a Taylor Sheridan world,” Saldaña added. “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.'”
She also spoke about the skepticism she faces as a woman with a small frame taking on combat roles. “It’s very typical to think that a woman with a petite frame cannot be strong or capable,” she told USA Today. “I’ve always faced this backlash — like people cannot believe Joe could do many of her scenes.”
Season 3 Tested Her Body
Season 3 of “Lioness” pushed Saldaña further than any previous season. Sheridan asked her to bulk up for the new storyline, in which Joe gets abducted and tortured by unidentified agents before being rescued by her team in the penultimate episode.
“I didn’t even know if I was gonna be able to pull it off,” Saldaña shared with Entertainment Weekly regarding her character’s agonizing Season 3 arc.
The physical transformation was not just about looking bigger on screen. It involved a real change to her body, and she was not sure she could deliver it. The result is a season where her character endures abduction and torture, and Saldaña had to convince herself she could carry it through.
Combat Scenes And The Skeptics
Saldaña has faced questions about whether she can pull off Joe’s demanding combat scenes. She is not fazed by those who underestimate the extensive physical preparation she brings to the role.
“I’ve always been this athletic actress, constantly training, even when I was pregnant with my children,” she said.
Her response to critics is direct: she trains, she prepares, and she does not let skepticism slow her down. The question of whether a woman with a small frame can be strong or capable is one she has answered many times before, and she answered it again here.
What Comes Next For Lioness
The fate of “Lioness” beyond Season 3 remains up in the air. Paramount+ has not renewed the series for a fourth season as of this writing.
Saldaña has made it clear that “Lioness” is the only Sheridan series she wants to take on for now. That is a significant statement from an actor who has committed fully to this role, and it speaks to the scale of the commitment she is already making.
The Bottom Line
Saldaña is not saying no to Sheridan forever. She is saying no to another show right now, while she is still deep in the middle of “Lioness.” The role is demanding, the physical work is heavy, and she is not ready to add another layer on top of it.
Whether “Lioness” returns for a fourth season remains open. Saldaña has made her stance clear.
For now, the show lives or dies on its own terms. Saldaña has given everything to Season 3, and she is letting the record speak for itself.
Season 3 Episode Order
| Episode | Storyline |
|---|---|
| Penultimate episode | Joe gets abducted and tortured, rescued by her team |
| Final episodes | To be determined |
The table above shows the known storyline for the penultimate episode of Season 3. The final episodes remain unannounced, and the renewal status for a fourth season is unresolved.
The question of whether “Lioness” returns for a fourth season remains open. Saldaña has made her stance clear, and the outcome depends on Paramount+’s decision.
Source material: “Why Lioness Star Zoe Saldaña Won't Join A Second Taylor Sheridan Series,” TVLine.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.