Zoe Saldana is as crucial to the next Star Trek film as anyone. Her role as Nyota Uhura garnered rave reviews and helped springboard her into a major name within the industry. She's been one of the best aspects of the film consistently and has proven her talents to be beyond just the Star Trek franchise.
So it's not surprising that she's still rolling on with big project after big project with her Star Trek films being on pause for the moment. In fact, she's not waiting around for the fourth film in her Star Trek film series, instead going out and getting as many big projects as she can possibly do.
In fact, while she wants to do a fourth film, she's not holding her breath. At least, not completely, telling Variety;
"In the first years when these sequels were becoming a thing in my life, I wouldn’t do anything. I would just live my life and wait. Now I’m learning that there’s so many things I want to do. I’m like ‘Hey, what’s out there?’"
In fact, it sounds very much like if she comes back to Star Trek, she's going to want to do more than what she's been given in the past three films. While she had a more robust role as the series continued, she's looking to see Uhura do even more, further telling Variety;
"She’s a xenolinguistics master, but I would like her doing something else. I’m curious to see her relationship with Spock (Zachary Quinto) and how that has evolved."
So what does that turn into? Well, we're not sure. This is an entirely different universe that her version of Uhura resides in, so why not get weird? Uhura and Spock could be estranged from one another, both now first officers but on different ships.
Maybe Uhura and Spock are no longer together because of concerns about their future. Perhaps the build-up and reveal is that she's pregnant with Spock's child. Essentially the original idea that Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home was going to explore but between Spock and fellow Vulcan, Saavik.
Whatever way they go, breaking from the established lore of the original series and subsequent film franchise is the way to go. Especially if they create something truly unique in the process.