Zoe Saldana Talks Playing an Illegal Immigrant in Marco Perego’s Border Thriller ‘Absence of Eden’

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Paramount+ has dropped a sneak peek of Taylor Sheridan’s next joint.

Coldplay paid tribute to Elton John during the final night of his ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road‘ tour in Stockholm via a video broadcast last night (July 8).The music icon completed his world tour in the Swedish capital’s Tele2 Arena this weekend, after 333 shows and nearly five years.During the show, Coldplay – who were performing in Gothenburg, Sweden at the very same time – appeared onscreen through a video broadcast which was beamed out at the musicians’ respective concerts.Chris Martin and co. were performing John’s classic ‘Rocket Man’ at Gamla Ullevi stadium when the frontman called out to the musician.“Elton, can you hear us, from Gothenburg?” he asked, before John appeared on the screen.

Sir Elton John will hold what he has described as his “final farewell show” in Sweden this weekend as his tour comes to an end. Billed as his retirement from touring, the megastar played his last UK date at Glastonbury festival last month and will bring the tour to an end on Saturday at the Tele2 Arena in Stockholm.

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.

The ongoing trend of hurling objects on stage at musicians during concerts seems to be getting stranger. Lil Nas X managed to avoid injury with some quick reflexes.

Lil Nas X managed to avoid injury with some quick reflexes.The «Industry Baby» artist was performing at European Lollapalooza in Stockholm, Sweden over the weekend when a concertgoer decided to hurl an item onto the stage, midway through his performance of «Down Souf Hoes.»The sudden tossing seemed to surprise Lil Nas X, who still managed to avoid getting hit by it after some fast footwork. However, he was more surprised when he walked back to retrieve the item and found out it was a particularly NSFW toy.Specifically a sex toy.

The trend of throwing objects at performers continues – the latest victim? Lil Nas X.

Will Tizard Contributor Alicia Vikander, the Swedish actor who won an Oscar for her role in “The Danish Girl” in 2015, has taken on a remarkable range of characters in recent years – but is still stretching her boundaries, she says. Speaking at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, where she presented the historical drama “Firebrand” on opening night, Vikander says she’s now prepping for films that offer distinctly different challenges than her turn as Catherine Parr, the only one of Henry VIII’s six wives to outlive the marriage. One character she admits she’s still deciphering is the central figure in the upcoming sci-fi feature “The Assessment,” a feature project with Paris-based writer/director Fleur Fortuné.