One Of The Cons Of Starring In Big Franchises Like Avatar, GOTG And Star Trek, According To Zoe Saldaña

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As a movie buff with decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but empathize with Zoe Saldaña‘s heartfelt words about the challenges that come with being part of big franchise movies. While it’s undeniably exciting to be associated with blockbusters like Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Star Trek, the reality is that success often comes with its own set of pressures.

Reframing the idea: It’s common for people to view securing a role in a major studio film as a significant achievement, especially when it involves well-known franchises like “Guardians of the Galaxy” or “Avatar.” This perceived success stems from the assumption that an abundance of work follows, along with increased popularity and recognition. However, recent insights from actors have shed light on the downsides of being part of such big franchises. Actress Zoe Saldaña, who has been a part of several popular franchise movies, shares her experiences and sentiments on this subject.

I recently enjoyed a heartfelt conversation between Zoe Saldaña and her esteemed Avatar co-star Kate Winslet, which was shared by Variety. Since their collaboration on the latest Avatar film, The Way of Water, they’ve not had the chance to work together again – but that’s about to change with the upcoming installment! Interestingly enough, this was their first encounter since wrapping up The Way of Water. During the chat, they discussed their professional lives beyond the world of Avatar. Saldaña opened up about her unique experience being part of not one, but three major franchises, expressing her personal feelings on the matter.

  • SALDAÑA: And these films, Avatar, Star Trek, Guardians of the Galaxy, they gave me so much. But as they became super successful and became machines and worldwide phenomenon’s, all that was happening while I was also getting married and starting my family. So there was very little time for me to …
  • WINSLET: … be an artist.
  • SALDAÑA: … start stretching my muscles again and challenge myself. You find yourself just full of frustration, and you don’t know where to put it. I had a conversation with my agents, and we wrote down a list of great directors — a very small list. They called me up and they said, ‘Jacques Audiard is casting for his next movie, and it’s going to be in Spanish, and it’s an opera and it takes place in Mexico, and we really do believe there’s a part that is just perfect for you.’

Saldaña continues discussing her involvement in the film Emilia Pérez, explaining that accepting this role came with a significant amount of self-doubt on her part due to it pushing her beyond her typical casting boundaries. During the time these films were gaining popularity, she was simultaneously starting her own family, which made having a high-profile franchise like this provide a sense of security for her.

In my perspective, every profession requires a sense of continuity, but in an unpredictable industry such as entertainment, stepping out of your comfort zone can be truly terrifying due to the numerous external factors at play. For instance, actors like Jason Momoa are grateful they had room to experiment because their careers didn’t take off until later in life. Conversely, talents such as Olivia Wilde have transitioned behind the camera to direct and expand their creative horizons.

Although not everyone can directly understand the pressures of being in the public eye like Saldaña, she still resonates with many as she subtly highlights the struggle of stepping out of comfort zones due to our own success, into uncharted territories. Her latest film, “Emilia Pérez,” is now streaming on Netflix. As for the collaboration between Saldaña and Winslet, it seems that we’ll be returning to Pandora with the upcoming release of “Avatar: Fire and Ash” in 2025.

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2024-12-17 05:07