Zoe Saldaña is quitting the MCU and wants another actor to play Gamora

Zoe Saldaña has said that the next instalment in the Guardians of the Galaxy series might be the last time she ever appears as Gamora, but she was less certain on whether that will be the last time that we ever see the character.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is slated to be the last release in the current iteration of the Marvel franchise, likely bringing to an end a 10 year time for Saldaña in her role as the alien assassin Gamora.

Now, she says that the timing actually couldn’t be better, and that she’s ready to pack it in after all that.

"I think the time has come for me to step down, and for the next generation to come forward,” the Avatar: The Way of Water star said.

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"The one thing I would not want is for Gamora to go away.

“She's been such an impactful character for fans, and especially female fans, and young female fans.

“I would love for Marvel to figure out a way to find that next generation of actors that can incarnate these characters, and give them this immortality that fans generationally keep coming back to."

She continued: "But me, per se? I mean, I signed up for one, and I got 10 years.

“Lucky me, man. I have no complaints.

“And I'm moving on with so much grace and gratitude in my heart."

The next Guardians of the Galaxy film will hit theaters on 5 May, and it’s the fifth time that Saldaña and her team will have put on the prosthetics and make up for their respective roles.

Still, the 44-year-old will leave feeling good about her experience, despite having said that she felt a bit ‘stuck’ in the franchise roles she’s been getting.

"I can never say no to anything, but that green makeup? I wouldn't be upset if it didn't happen again,” she explained.

"I miss Gamora, but I don't miss 3:30 a.m. calls and five-hour makeup sessions and trips to the dermatologist afterwards."

Saldaña isn’t the only GOTG stalwart who will be away after this next film, as Dave Bautista - who plays Drax - has also said that this will be his last outing.

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While appearing on The Tonight Show back in February, he told Jimmy Fallon: "We all had those perfect character arcs and such a storybook ending,

"I constantly relate it to the way I ended my wrestling career.

“I ended it on a storybook note.

“And I would never go back and tarnish that.

“And it's the same with this."

Well, enjoy it one last time whilst you can - the next Guardians of the Galaxy film will be out this May.