Zoe Saldaña Explains Why Her AVATAR Character Will Be Harder Than Any Other Franchise Role to Say Goodbye to Someday

Zoe Saldaña has made a name for herself as a movie star in franchises like Star Trek, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, and the Avatar films.

The Star Trek movies were really well done, and fans have hoped for another entry in that universe, but Paramount has unfortunately pulled the plug on the sequel we were all waiting for.

Saldaña wrapped her storyline as Gamora in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the film’s third and final film in 2023, but the actress is continuing to chug along with her first franchise role as Neytiri in the Avatar universe, which is releasing its third film (out of a planned five) this month.

Saldaña has loved the chance to play each of these powerful roles, but she said in a recent interview with ComicBook that her Avatar character will be harder to say goodbye to than any of the others.

“I think because she was the first, and there is a connection that we have with our first times and our first ones. Not to say that you can’t choose favorites, but everything that Neytiri has taught me and has given me is so magical and special. I feel like Neytiri was the beginning of a wonderful ride for me, that enabled me to have the visibility and be seen by a James Gunn and be seen by a J.J. Abrams … it will always be very special, the connection that I have with Neytiri.”

The report points out that although Star Trek released a handful of months before Avatar in 2009, Avatar was the first time Saldaña had been cast in a primary role in a project of that magnitude.

Prior to joining James Cameron’s sci-fi epic, she had accumulated several acting credits (including smaller parts in titles like Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and The Terminal), but Avatar is what put her on the map, completely transforming the trajectory of her career. Saldaña’s performance as Neytiri is a highlight of Avatar, and she demonstrated that she was more than capable of headlining a massive studio blockbuster.

Without Avatar, she may not have landed roles like Uhura and Gamora, which would have been a significant loss for those franchises.

Luckily, Saldaña doesn’t have to worry about saying goodbye to Neytiri for several more years. Avatar 4 is set for a 2029 release, and Avatar 5 will come out in 2031.

Avatar: Fire and Ash will be available to watch in theaters on December 19th.