Zoe Saldaña says she wants another actor to take over playing Gamora after she makes her final Marvel appearance in 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3'

• Zoe Saldaña told Total Film magazine that she wants another actor to take over playing Gamora.
• Saldaña makes her final Marvel appearance in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3."

Zoe Saldaña said that she wants a new actor to play Gamora after she moves on from the role following the release of "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3."

In a new interview with Total Film magazine, Saldaña said that the movie may be her final appearance as the alien assassin, after playing the character for almost 10 years.

"I think the time has come for me to step down, and for the next generation to come forward," the "Avatar" star said.

"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."

Saldaña added: "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."

"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3," which is in theaters on May 5, will be the fifth movie in which Saldaña has portrayed Gamora and is slated to be the last movie for the current set of "Guardians."

Over the last few months, the 44-year-old star has talked about leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In December 2022, Saldaña told Women's Wear Daily that she felt creatively "stuck" appearing in franchise movies such as Marvel and "Avatar" for the last 10 years. She also told Variety in November, that she would struggle to say no to returning.

"I can never say no to anything, but that green makeup? I wouldn't be upset if it didn't happen again," she said. "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 is not the only "Guardians of the Galaxy" star to announce her departure from the MCU.

Dave Bautista, who plays Drax in the movies, told IGN in 2021 that "Vol. 3" will also be his last Marvel appearance.

Bautista said on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" in January that the third movie will be the "perfect exit" for his character.

"We all had those perfect character arcs and such a storybook ending," he said. "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."