Zoe Saldana Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

inspiration for Paramount’s forthcoming action thriller “Special Ops: Lioness,” which debuts Sunday and stars Zoe Saldaña, 45, alongside Oscar winners Nicole Kidman, 56, and Morgan Freeman, 86. The eight-part series — a brainchild of Taylor Sheridan, the visionary behind “Yellowstone” and “Sons of Anarchy” — follows the journey of a young Marine named Cruz Manuelos (Laysla De Oliveria, 31, of Netflix’s “Locke & Key”).She’s recruited by the CIA’s Lioness Engagement Team to befriend the daughter of a terrorist group leader in an effort to ravage the criminal organization. Saldaña, who plays “Joe,” the station chief charged with readying new recruits for undercover operations, explains the significance of the niche program to De Oliveira’s “Manuelos” in the first episode, noting the evolution of their task force’s duties over the past two decades. “When the Lioness team was first formed we needed female soldiers to frisk and interrogate female insurgents,” she says. “What we do now is locate the wives and the girlfriends and daughters of these high value targets and we place an operative close to them,” continues Joe.

Say what you will about the melodramatic, often episodic, and currently-stretched-thin writing of Taylor Sheridan, the multi-hyphenate Paramount+ impresario; not only does he know how to craft a gripping opening sequence, he knows how to elegantly employ it to launch an entire story, character arc and plot of a show. Known for his acclaimed gritty and muscular screenwriting (the Academy Award-nominated “Hell Or High Water,” “Sicario”)— and seemingly writing, running, overseeing, and managing a dozen Paramount+ shows, including the hit series “Yellowstone”— his latest is the CIA espionage thriller, “Special Ops: Lioness.” Zoe Saldaña (“Guardians Of The Galaxy”) stars as Joe, the Lioness Program director tasked with training, managing, and leading her female undercover operatives in covert missions around the world.

Alison Herman TV Critic The women in Taylor Sheridan projects tend to be lone wolves. They also tend to fit into specific, narrow archetypes: the vulnerable naif (Kate Macer in “Sicario”; Jane Banner in “Wind River”); the ferocious badass (Beth Dutton in “Yellowstone”; Hannah Faber in “Those Who Wish Me Dead”); the steely matriarch (Beth’s ancestors Margaret and Cara, who anchor the “Yellowstone” prequel series “1883” and “1923”). The screenwriter is himself a lone wolf, posing for magazine covers in a cowboy hat while denigrating the use of writers’ rooms, and rose to the top of Hollywood’s hierarchy in part through a shameless embrace of genre tropes. Sheridan’s latest series for the streaming service Paramount+ takes its title from another kind of predator — one who travels in packs. “Special Ops: Lioness” isn’t just the first Sheridan show to feature a true multiplicity of female leads; it’s also the first to have an explicitly gendered premise. But just because “Lioness” features more women protagonists doesn’t mean Sheridan has grown any more nuanced in his depiction of them.

Nicole Kidman and Zoe Saldana are big names with lots in common - they’ve both played superheroes, they’re international superstars and they’re acting together in Paramount+ thriller Special Ops: Lioness. However, it was the pair’s identical star signs that ultimately forged their friendship on set.

Obviously, Taylor Sheridan is the king of Paramount+. The creator of “Yellowstone” and seemingly a dozen other shows, Sheridan, was an Academy Award-nominated screenwriter (“Sicario,” “Hell Or High Water”), but soon began growing by leaps and bounds, directing “Wind River” in 2017 and then was essentially given the keys to TV on Paramount as a writer, director, showrunner, producer and THE man who runs things there.

Marvel Studios and DC’s film studios, along with several actors, will be sitting out of this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. But the fans are not.

Marvel Studios’ intergalactic extravaganza “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” is soaring into the streaming universe!

Zoe Saldaña acknowledges the controversy that surrounded her portrayal of Nina Simone. In a new interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Saldaña opened up about her new series “Special Ops: Lioness,” and about her career, including the harsh criticism she received when playing the role of Simone in the year 2016. Zoe Saldaña and Adria Arjona will celebrate Marco Perego’s ‘The Absence of Eden’ at the Taormina Film FestivalZoe Saldaña almost missed the opportunity of working alongside Nicole Kidman“I should have never accepted the part,” said Saldaña.

Sophia Scorziello editor If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. Get ready MCU fans — “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” is finally coming to Disney+. The third installment of James Gunn’s “Guardians” trilogy will be available for streaming on August 2 for all Disney+ subscribers, which comes three months after the film first hit theaters. Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan and Pom Klementieff star in the film, which picks up with Peter Quill (Pratt) rallying the gang for a mission to save Rocket’s (Bradley Cooper) life. The film also features Vin Diesel as Groot along with Sean Gunn as Kraglin, Chukwudi Iwuji as the High Evolutionary, Will Poulter as Adam Warlock and Maria Bakalova as Cosmo.

Laysla De Oliveira still can’t believe she got to work with such huge names on “Special Ops: Lioness”.

Zoe Saldaña’s latest project was a dream come true.

Paramount+ has canceled the red carpet premiere of upcoming series “Special Ops: Lioness” amid the recently enacted SAG-AFTRA strike, TheWrap has confirmed.“In light of today’s news of an official SAG strike, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the red carpet premiere of ‘Special Ops: Lioness,’ planned for Tuesday, July 18,” the streamer wrote in a statement. “We recognize this is disappointing news and apologize for any inconvenience it causes.

The red carpet premiere of Paramount+ series, Special Ops: Lioness, is not moving forward due to the SAG-AFTRA Strike.

BreAnna Bell There will be no red carpet premiere for Paramount’s “Special Ops: Lioness,” Variety has learned. The cancellation comes on the heels of SAG-AFTRA’s announcement that the guild will commence its own strike against the film and TV companies, alongside the Writers Guild. “We recognize this is disappointing news and apologize for any inconvenience it causes. We are very excited to celebrate the series and can’t wait for it to debut to Paramount+ audiences on July 23rd,” read Paramount+’s official confirmation of the change in plans for the premiere event of Taylor Sheridan’s military drama . Originally scheduled to take place on July 18 at the Directors Guild of America Theatre in Los Angeles, the “Special Ops: Lioness” premiere was scheduled to include appearances by stars including Zoe Saldaña, Laysla De Oliveira, Nicole Kidman, Morgan Freeman, Michael Kelly, Dave Annable, Jill Wagner, LaMonica Garrett, James Jordan, Austin Hébert, Jonah Wharton, Stephanie Nur, Hannah Love Lanier and Sam Asghari.

Nicole Kidman is opening up about how she got involved from just being a producer on Special Ops: Lioness, to being one of its’ stars.

Morgan Freeman had to skip the U.K. portion of his press tour for his new show this week after he came down with a contagious infection.  The 86-year-old actor was supposed to join co-stars Zoe Saldana and Nicole Kidman in promoting "Yellowstone" co-creator Taylor Sheridan’s new project "Special Ops: Lioness" about a female Marine recruited by the CIA.

Zoe Saldaña is looking back at the opportunity presented to her by starring in  creator Taylor Sheridan's new Paramount+ drama,  — and how she almost missed out.Saldaña spoke with ET at the premiere of the new series at the Tate Britain in London, England, on Tuesday — where she walked the red carpet alongside co-star Nicole Kidman — and she opened up about joining onto the series after finishing her work on the and franchises.«It feels great being here, feels wonderful knowing that two or three years ago I was whispering to myself just how disheartened I was, because I had reached a peak in my life where I wanted to challenge myself,» she explained. «I wanted to see what was out there beyond these amazing franchises, that have granted me so many opportunities but have also taken so much of my time.»"[I felt] I can be, I don't know, challenging myself a little more, and then Taylor called in the middle of the pandemic and presented me this opportunity," she continued.

Morgan Freeman was supposed to be on the Lioness press tour with Nicole Kidman and Zoe Saldana.

Nicole Kidman and Zoe Saldana are starring in the new Paramount+ series Special Ops: Lioness and they just launched a press tour for the show!

Zoe Saldana made a major change to her hair after rocking waist-length tresses for years.

Eiza González is always looking to make a fashion statement. The Mexican actress was invited to the Fendi fashion show at Paris Fashion Week, becoming one of the best dressed guests of the evening. What is Eiza González doing in New Zealand?Eiza González talks about the pressures of growing up as a Mexican teen idolEiza González teases her ‘intense’ new film with Aaron PaulA post shared by Eiza Gonzalez (@eizagonzalez)González wore a stunning cream-colored pantsuit that played with the viewers’ eye and perception.

Zoë Saldana and Nicole Kidman aim to stop global terrorism in Paramount+’s new series.

Nicole Kidman and Zoe Saldaña are leading an elite group of operatives in a new Paramount+ drama from  creator Taylor Sheridan. inspired by a real-life U.S. military program, centers on CIA missions to place undercover operatives close to high-value targets in order to gain their trust and eliminate them swiftly and quietly.

Zoe Saldana provided a pop of color in the audience while attending the Fendi Couture Fall/Winter 2023/2024 show during Paris Fashion Week on Thursday (July 6) in Paris, France.

Cardi B, Camila Cabello, and Shakira were spotted sitting front row at the Fendi Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2023/2024 show, looking radiant and showing off their best looks for the occasion.The Colombian star looked impeccable in a black and white ensemble, which included a simple yet sophisticated white tank top, black pants, and matching heels. She paired the look with a white purse and black sunglasses from the brand.

John Bleasdale Guest Contributor When Variety talks to Zoe Saldana and her husband, the artist and film director, Marco Perego, they’ve only just arrived in Taormina and are in the process of unpacking. Room service arrives and Zoe apologizes about having to tuck into the salad straightaway. They’re here attending the world premiere of Perego’s debut film as a director, “The Absence of Eden,” a drama that takes place in the murky world of the U.S.’s southern border, a hellish landscape inhabited by Coyotes, ICE officers, desperate immigrants and refugees. It’s a universe away from the Pandora of the “Avatar” pictures or the science fiction blockbusters “Star Trek” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” Saldana is more usually associated with. “When I was picked for those films, I had no idea they were going to become franchises. I thought it was going to be a one and done kind of thing. I hold all of those films responsible for any kind of global notoriety I may have. However, it’s time consuming. Between ‘Star Trek,’ ‘Guardians’ and ‘Avatar,’ I had solid work for over 10 years. As I became an asset that had a certain value in this industry, I could turn that to films like this.”

Naomi Campbell has welcomed her second child, a son.  "My little darling, know that you are cherished beyond measure and surrounded by love from the moment you graced us with your presence," the supermodel, 53, captioned an Instagram post Thursday that showed her holding her little one whose face was concealed. "A True Gift from God."  She hashtagged the post "mumoftwo," adding, "It’s never too late to become a mother." The icon received plenty of celebrity well wishes on Instagram after her announcement, including messages from Claudia Schiffer, Kelly Rowland, Ashley Graham, Donatella Versace and Zoe Saldana.  Marc Jacobs wrote, "Oh my! Already? I can’t believe a second blessing.

Streamers such as Hulu, Disney+ and Max have made headlines for their decision to cancel shows and subsequently remove them from their services.

Selena Gomez is living proof of this! The multi-talented singer and actress has been soaking up the romantic atmosphere of the French capital while filming her latest movie, Emilia Perez, alongside Zoe Saldaña. Selena shared a beautiful series of photos on Instagram that showcased her European adventure, and fans couldn’t get enough of her love for Paris.In her heartfelt caption, Selena expressed her gratitude for the unforgettable two months she spent in Paris, saying, “Thank you Paris for being my home away from home. Working on this film has truly changed my life, and I can’t wait to share more soon.

Italy’s Taormina Film Festival kicks off its 69th edition this evening against the backdrop of its landmark Teatro Antico amphitheatre with a Pavarotti Forever benefit event headlined by Placido Domingo and Vittorio Grigolo.