Lioness Season 3 Launches on Paramount+ with Creator Taylor Sheridan in a Surprise On-Screen Role

The third season of the Paramount+ spy thriller Lioness debuts on Sunday, August 2. The season returns its ensemble cast—including Zoe Saldaña as CIA operative Joe McNamara, Nicole Kidman as Kaitlyn, Morgan Freeman as Edwin, Michael Kelly as Byron, Laysla De Oliveira as Cruz, Jill Wagner as Bobby, and Thad Luckinbill as Kyle McManus—while creator Taylor Sheridan steps in front of the camera in a surprise role, sharing scenes with Luckinbill.

Radio Times

Lioness was co-created by Wagner and Sheridan and is inspired by Team Lioness, a U.S. military program that deployed female soldiers during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The series debuted in 2023 and has built a reputation for portraying the covert work of the CIA and U.S. military from a female perspective.

Woman's World

• The first season featured three Oscar-winning actors (Saldaña, Kidman, Freeman).

Radio Times

• The current main cast list comprises twenty-four credited performers as detailed by USA Today.

Woman's World

Production notes from *The Hollywood Reporter* confirm that the cast underwent extensive weapons training, close-quarter combat drills, and extensive explosion work to enhance realism.

Woman's World

• “Major, major hitters in the U.S. military have come up to me and my husband and said how much they love the show,” — Neal Jill Wagner

TND - The National Desk

• “And it's such an amazing honor because it's called ‘Lioness’. It's not called ‘Lion.’ It's called ‘Lioness,’ and it's told from a female perspective. That doesn't mean that we don't have amazing male actors and that are portraying some really powerhouse people. But the fact that they're buying it means that we got it right.” — Neal Jill Wagner

TND - The National Desk

• “He’s involved. I mean, he has a role, which is great. And the show’s better for it when he plays a role,” — Thad Luckinbill

Hollywood Reporter

• “He’s so real. Whether he’s an actor, writer, director or a producer, he’s still the same guy,” — Tex Thad Luckinbill

Hollywood Reporter

• “Taylor’s very involved. He wrote everything, he shows up to set—he does everything,” — De Oliveira

Woman's World

The series’ focus on a female-led CIA team has drawn praise from active-duty service members, who have told Wagner that they “love the show.” Wagner argues that the show’s title, Lioness, signals its commitment to a female perspective while still featuring strong male characters. The combination of on-set military training and Sheridan’s detailed oversight aims to deliver a portrayal that resonates with both audiences and the armed forces.

Woman's World

• 2023 – *Lioness* premieres, introducing the CIA team and the Team Lioness concept.

Woman's World

• August 2 – Season 3 premieres on Paramount+.

Radio Times

Viewers can stream the new episodes starting August 2 on Paramount+. No additional release dates or follow-up projects have been announced.

Radio Times