The Saldana Sisterhood: Inside Zoe, Cisely, And Mariel's $100 Million Production Empire, Cinestar Pictures

Few Hollywood power players can claim to have built a multi-million dollar empire alongside their siblings, but Zoe Saldana and her sisters, Cisely and Mariel, have done exactly that. As of late 2024 and heading into 2025, the Saldana sisterhood is not just a personal bond; it’s a fully operational, high-profile film production company, Cinestar Pictures, that is actively shaping the landscape of diverse storytelling in cinema and television. This deep dive explores the unique dynamic, the individual roles, and the ambitious projects that make the Saldana sisters one of the industry’s most formidable trios.

The foundation of their success lies in a shared vision and an unbreakable sisterly trust, turning their family unit into a powerful creative and business collective. From their childhood in Queens, New York, to the red carpets of major film festivals, Cisely and Mariel Saldana Nazario are every bit as integral to the Saldana brand as the global superstar herself, proving that family truly can be the best business partner.

The Saldana Sisters: A Complete Biography and Professional Profile

The Saldana sisters—Zoë, Cisely, and Mariel—share a deep Dominican and Puerto Rican heritage, which heavily influences their commitment to telling diverse and authentic stories. Their bond was forged during their upbringing in Queens, New York, and later in the Dominican Republic, where they briefly moved after the tragic death of their father, Aridio Saldaña, when Zoë was just nine years old. This shared experience instilled a profound sense of resilience and mutual support that defines their professional collaboration today.

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Zoë Yadira Saldaña Nazario

• Role: Actress, Producer, Co-Founder of Cinestar Pictures.
• Born: June 19, 1978, in Passaic, New Jersey.
• Career Highlights: Starred in three of the highest-grossing films of all time: Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, and Avengers: Endgame. Known for roles as Neytiri, Gamora, and Uhura.
• Recent Activity (2024–2025): Preparing for the release of the highly anticipated film Avatar: Fire and Ash, scheduled for December 2025. Continues to attend major industry events, often accompanied by her sisters.
• Family: Married to artist Marco Perego, with whom she shares three sons: twins Cy Aridio and Bowie Ezio, and Zen.

Cisely Saldaña

• Role: Producer, Director, Writer, Co-Founder of Cinestar Pictures.
• Career Focus: Cisely is a key creative and executive force within the family business, often taking on directorial and writing duties for Cinestar's projects. She is also recognized for her striking resemblance to her famous sister, often accompanying Zoë to high-profile events like the AFI Life Achievement Award.
• Known Projects (as Producer/Director/Writer): 19 Weeks, Swirl, and Isolated Victim.
• Recent Activity (2024–2025): Listed as a producer on the upcoming Amazon film The Bluff, starring Zoë Saldana and Priyanka Chopra.

Mariel Saldaña Nazario

• Role: Producer, Co-Founder of Cinestar Pictures.
• Career Focus: Mariel, whose full name is Mariel Saldaña Nazario, is a vital producer and business partner within the Cinestar Pictures framework. She focuses on the strategic and production aspects of their joint ventures, ensuring the company’s vision is realized on screen.
• Recent Activity (2024–2025): Listed as a producer on the upcoming Amazon film The Bluff, alongside her sisters.

Cinestar Pictures: The Sister-Powered Production House

The true heart of the Saldana sisters' collective power lies in Cinestar Pictures, the film production company they co-founded in January 2013. This venture was born out of a shared passion for storytelling and a desire to control the narrative, particularly for underrepresented voices in Hollywood. The company's vision is to forge a brand dedicated to producing diverse, authentic, and compelling content that resonates with a global audience.

Cinestar Pictures is a testament to the idea that women of color can and should be in executive positions, making decisions about the stories that get told. The sisters, all serving as producers, have strategically positioned the company to tackle a variety of formats, from feature films and documentaries to digital series and animated projects. This broad scope gives them topical authority across multiple media platforms.

Key Projects and Filmography of Cinestar Pictures

The production slate of Cinestar Pictures showcases their commitment to diverse genres and strong female-led narratives. Their work highlights the collaborative nature of the sisterhood, with Cisely and Mariel often taking the lead on the day-to-day production duties while Zoë leverages her star power and industry connections.

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• The Honor List (2018): One of Cinestar's notable early feature films, produced in collaboration with Lionsgate Digital Studios. The coming-of-age story focused on a group of high school friends, with over 60% of the crew being women—a clear sign of the Saldana sisters' commitment to empowering female talent both in front of and behind the camera.
• Mom Ambition (Series): A digital series produced for the go90 platform, demonstrating their ability to adapt to new media landscapes and platforms.
• Dark Star Squadron (Upcoming Animated Series): An ambitious project that sees Cinestar Pictures venturing into the world of anime. All three Saldana sisters are set to produce this series, which further expands their topical reach into the animation and sci-fi genres.
• The Bluff (Upcoming Film): This high-profile Amazon Studios project is arguably Cinestar's biggest feature to date. It is a period action-thriller starring Zoë Saldana and co-produced by Cisely and Mariel. The film is set to significantly raise Cinestar's profile in the big-budget feature space, solidifying their status as major Hollywood producers.

The Power of Sisterhood in Business: Why Their Partnership Works

The Saldana sisters' success is often attributed to their unique sisterly dynamic, which translates seamlessly into a productive business partnership. While working with family can be fraught with challenges, for Zoë, Cisely, and Mariel, their shared history and mutual respect serve as a competitive advantage in the cutthroat world of Hollywood production. They have established a clear division of labor that capitalizes on each sister's strengths.

Zoë’s role often involves leveraging her A-list status, network, and creative vision as an actress who understands the industry from the inside. Cisely, with her background as a director and writer, often handles the core creative development and hands-on production. Mariel, as a dedicated producer, ensures the business and logistical aspects of their projects run smoothly. This synergistic approach allows Cinestar Pictures to operate with both star power and creative depth.

Their shared cultural background—being Dominican-American and Puerto Rican—is not just a biographical footnote; it is the core of their business mission. They are actively working to change the narrative and representation of Latino and female characters in media, ensuring that the stories they produce are authentic, complex, and break away from outdated stereotypes. This intention-driven production strategy gives their work significant cultural weight and commercial appeal in a market hungry for diverse content.

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As they move into the mid-2020s with major projects like The Bluff and Dark Star Squadron on the horizon, the Saldana sisters are proving that a family-run business, built on trust and a shared vision, can not only survive but thrive at the highest levels of the entertainment industry. Their journey is a powerful case study in how sisterhood can translate into a multi-faceted, enduring, and creatively rich Hollywood empire.