From one major sci-fi movie franchise to another…and then to another. Zoe Saldana of Avatar and the rebooted Star Trek series is in negotiations to join the cast of Marvel Studios’ intergalactic epic Guardians of the Galaxy.

Saldana would be playing the female lead character Gamora, described by Borys Kit of The Hollywood Reporter as “the green-skinned humanoid who is the last of a species that was exterminated by a race known as the Badoon”. Gamora is also a highly-skilled assassin. The actress is the third to be cast in Guardians so far, joining Chris Pratt (Parks & Recreation) as Star-Lord and WWE superstar Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer. James Gunn (Slither) co-wrote the script and is directing his biggest movie to date.

I am all in favor of this casting choice. Saldana is a terrific actress, and also very beautiful and intelligent. She has the requisite chops to play with the big boys in studio tentpole extravaganza-land while remaining the coolest lady at the part. Saldana captured Spock’s cold Vulcan heart and brought out the tender vulnerability in a fierce Na’vi warrior. Playing a Guardian of the Galaxy should be a cake walk comparatively, and a fun one at that.

Disney will release Guardians of the Galaxy on August 1, 2014. Saldana can next be seen playing Lt. Uhura in Star Trek Into Darkness starting May 17, 2014, and she also has the Avatar sequels on her docket just as soon as James Cameron gets around to writing them.

[Source: THR]