Zoe Saldaña is poised to enhance her impressive legacy as a box office powerhouse with the forthcoming sequels, Avatar: Fire and Ash and Avengers: Doomsday. These films will reinforce her status as a significant player in two separate $1 billion franchises, solidifying her record as the first actor to appear in four of the six highest-grossing films ever. Avengers: Doomsday marks the fifth installment in the beloved Avengers series, while Avatar: Fire and Ash is set to be the third chapter in James Cameron’s cinematic saga. While the details surrounding Gamora’s return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe are still largely speculative, her role as Neytiri in the Avatar series appears to be more firmly established.
Both Gamora and Neytiri showcase the actress’s ability to navigate intricate characters within vastly different settings. Moreover, Saldaña’s contributions extend beyond these franchises, as she is also featured in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean and has reportedly agreed to return to the Star Trek universe. Saldaña’s presence in these cinematic titans exemplifies her exceptional talent and versatility in blockbuster roles. Despite expressing feelings of being “stuck doing these franchises,”she conveys gratitude for the opportunities they present (via The Direct), acknowledging the demanding nature of her work. With the release of these sequels on the horizon, Saldaña’s star power is set to rise even further.
Zoe Saldaña’s Record as a Highest-Grossing Actress Will Further Impress Following Upcoming Sequels
Proven Success Formulas for Avatar: Fire and Ash and Avengers: Doomsday
There is no denying that Saldaña has been a dominant force in Hollywood for many years, resulting in a plethora of options for her top films. The original Avatar, released in 2009, has achieved remarkable box office success and broke records again in 2022 with the sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water. As the leading actress and a pivotal figure in Avatar’s narrative, Saldaña plays a crucial role in driving the series’ success, with the third installment expected to perform exceptionally well upon its 2025 debut.
|
Zoe Saldaña’s 10 Highest-Grossing Movies |
Year of Release |
Estimated Budget |
Box Office (Total) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Avatar |
2009 |
$237,000,000 |
$2,923,706,026 |
|
2. Avengers: Endgame |
2019 |
$356,000,000 |
$2,799,439,100 |
|
3. Avatar: The Way of Water |
2022 |
$460,000,000 |
$2,320,250,281 |
|
4. Avengers: Infinity War |
2018 |
$400,000,000 |
$2,052,415,039 |
|
5. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 |
2017 |
$200,000,000 |
$863,756,051 |
|
6. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 |
2023 |
$250,000,000 |
$845,555,777 |
|
7. Guardians of the Galaxy |
2014 |
$170,000,000 |
$773,350,147 |
|
8. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl |
2003 |
$140,000,000 |
$654,264,015 |
|
9. Star Trek Into Darkness |
2013 |
$190,000,000 |
$467,365,246 |
|
10. Star Trek Beyond |
2016 |
$185,000,000 |
$343,471,816 |
(via The Richest)
Within the context of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Gamora’s role in Avengers: Doomsday remains unconfirmed. Nonetheless, Saldaña’s potential involvement in this next installment isn’t entirely ruled out. Gamora remains a pivotal character amid Marvel’s expansive storytelling, and her presence could be even more crucial following the significant character shifts experienced during Phase Three. Although interest in Marvel may have softened recently, the franchise continues to excel at the box office, indicating that Saldaña could still claim her stake in this lucrative universe.
Zoe Saldaña’s Incredible Box Office Streak Will Persist, Even Without Gamora in Avengers 5
Saldaña Leads the Pack with Over a Decade of Unrivaled Success
Should Saldaña be absent from Avengers 5, she is still likely to maintain her phenomenal box office presence through other projects. Avengers: Secret Wars will inevitably want to leverage existing characters, which may allow Gamora’s storyline to continue into 2026. Although Scarlett Johansson poses a possible challenge to Saldaña’s box office record with her role in the upcoming Avengers films and Jurassic World: Rebirth, overtaking Saldaña’s impressive achievement may still be a significant hurdle.
Saldaña’s key role in the Avatar universe ensures her continued success, as her character is integral to the series’ overarching narrative—unlike the Avengers franchise, where Marvel has a plethora of alternate characters to draw from.
Sources: The Direct, The Richest