Special Ops: Lioness
Series Details:
| Also known as | Lioness |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Action, Drama, Thriller |
| Season | 2 |
| Episodes | 16 |
| Release date | July 23, 2023 – present |
| Running time | 42min |
| Age rating | TV-MA |
| Starring | Zoe Saldana, LaMonica Garrett, Laysla De Oliveira, Dave Annable, Jill Wagner, James Jordan, Austin Hébert, Jonah Wharton, Hannah Love Lanier, Nicole Kidman, Stephanie Nur, Michael Kelly, Thad Luckinbill, Max Martini |
| Created by | Taylor Sheridan |
| Directed by | John Hillcoat, Stephen Kay, Anthony Byrne, Paul Cameron, Michael Friedman, Taylor Sheridan |
| Written by | Taylor Sheridan, Tom Brady |
| Produced by | Rajeev Malhotra |
| Executive producers | Ron Burkle, David Glasser, David Hutkin, Nicole Kidman, Geyer Kosinski, Zoe Saldana, Taylor Sheridan, Jill Wagner, Bob Yari, John Hillcoat, Michael J. Malone, Keith Cox, Stephen Kay, David Hutkin |
| Cinematography by | Stuart Campbell, Nicole Hirsch Whitaker, Niels Alpert, Paul Cameron, John Conroy, Nicolas Karakatsanis, Eric Koretz |
| Edited by | Chad Galster, Ishai Setton, John Coniglio, Sushila Love, Conor O’Neill, Bjørn T. Myrholt |
| Music by | Andrew Lockington |
| Casting by | John Papsidera |
| Production Design by | Charisse Cardenas, Dan Bishop |
| Art Direction by | Fernando Carrion, Amy Frazzini, Candice Muriedas, Glen Hall, Linia Marie Hardy, Matthew Horan, Gregory G. Sandoval, Raúl Fernández López, Sam Kramer, Marco Trentini, Eva Fervenza, Oriol Guardiola, Marina Pozanco |
| Set Decoration by | Tiffany Zappulla, Gabriella Villarreal |
| Costume Design by | Kimberly Adams-Galligan, Teresa Binder Westby |
| Production Company | 101 Studios Blossom Films K Films Lightnin’ Production Rentals MTV Entertainment Studios Paramount Network |
| Original Network | Paramount Home Entertainment Paramount+ |
Cast & Character:
- Zoe Saldana as Joe
- LaMonica Garrett as Tucker
- Laysla De Oliveira as Cruz Manuelos
- Dave Annable as Neal
- Jill Wagner as Bobby
- James Jordan as Two Cups
- Austin Hébert as Randy
- Jonah Wharton as Tex
- Hannah Love Lanier as Kate
- Nicole Kidman as Kaitlyn Meade
- Stephanie Nur as Aaliyah
- Michael Kelly as Byron Westfield
- Thad Luckinbill as Kyle
- Max Martini as Tracer
- Martin Donovan as Errol
- Celestina Harris as Charlie
- Richard Haddad as Asif
- Genesis Rodriguez as Josephina Carrillo
- Morgan Freeman as Edwin Mullins
- Jennifer Ehle as Mason
- Bruce McGill as Hollar
- Jay Huguley as JSOC Commander Dixon
- Ray Corasani as Ehsan
- Carla Mansour as Malika
- Layla Mohammadi as Nashwa
- Priscilla Doueihy as Nala
- Michael Tow as Dr. Hammond
- Taylor Sheridan as Cody Spears
- Sam Asghari as Kamal
- Todd Gable as Marine Colonel
- Karim Nematt as Guard #2
- Avi Vichner as Guard #3
- Fawad Siddiqui as Guard #4
- Guy LeMonnier as Colonel
- Amalina Ace as Tami
- Mike Heslin as Polo
- Angelina Boris as Cheerleader #2
- Ellie Kim as Cheerleader #3
- Paul Diaz as Agent Alan Marshall
- Greyson ‘Queso’ Kennedy as Pete Westfield
- Eric Parkinson as DEA Captain
- Mathieu Caviness
- Matt Gerald as Cody
- America Olivo as Dr. Elsa Ramirez
- Graham Shiels as Drill Sergeant
- Michael Park as Dr. Gary Brown
- Clark Carmichael as Senator Palmer
- Bassem Youssef as Amrohi
- Josh Crotty as Delta Captain
- Ariella Ezekiel as Isabel
- Gigi Grace as Soccer Girl
- Ethan Jones Romero as Edgar
- Stevie Ray Dallimore as Colonel Dirves
- Maddie Mooregan as Hillary
- Erick Betancourt as Hernandez
- Nora Winer as Maddie Rawlins
- Daniel Abeles as Captain Hansmuth
- Narmar Hanna as Massage Therapist #1
- Jacob Heimer as Analyst
- Migs Govea as Jimenez
- Alex Podulke as Mike Rawlins
- Ana Cruz Kayne as Means
- Michele Ammon as Mindels Manager
- Adam Budron as Sami
- Marguerite Stimpson as Vickie Rawlins
- Ramon Nuñez as Cherub’s Boyfriend
- Reem Raouda as Massage Therapist #2
- Czarina Mireles as Congresswoman Hernandez
- Zach Appelman as Lt. Jennings
- Imani Love as Nurse Jenny
- Daniel Reece as Paul
- Mikaela Nina Secada as Cherub
- Edward Brence as Punk Thief #1
- David Alan Basche as Dr. Brumley
- Hazel Graye as Daisy
- Jared Shaw as Delta Cruz Interrogator
- Amit Barnathan as Punk Thief #2 (Damian)
- John Anthony Gorman as CIA Agent – AF Base
- Pascal Arquimedes as Punk
- Octavio Rodriguez as Corporal Rivero
- Noga Blum as Nurse
- Anthony Ruiz as Manager of Tast E Burger
- Braxton Fannin as Punk Thief #3 (Driver)
- Brandon Ocasio as Steakhouse Waiter
- Ruby King as Jasmine
- Joshua Graverholt as Ranger QRT Residence
- Brandon Muirbrook as Dean
- Jackson Dorfmann as Michael
- Martin Fisher as Recruiting Marine
- Michael Jibrin as Delta Operator
- A.J. Franklin as San Antonio SWAT #1
- Molly B. Thomas as Aspen
- Sean Avery as SF Operator
- Gabe Bowling as Police Officer
- Jamie Guyer as San Antonio SWAT #2
- Katya Collazo as Amber Mills
- Ryan Garbayo as Surgeon on Zoom
- Crew Wyard as Battalion Commander
- Logan Crawford as News Anchor
- Aaron Matthews as Sergeant Hastings
- Alexander Blaise as Congressman Hay Adams
- Brett Bartholomew as Officer O’Malley
- Aziz Attougui as Snitch
- Alexandria Arnold as Kylee
- Maggie Parto as Fariha
- Essam Ferris as Alashka
- Colt Bauder as Guard
- Justin Titus as State Trooper
- Ashlyn Anderson Gomez as Kylee’s Mom
- Abraham Justice as Eyes
- Karen Izaguirre as Danika
- Lily Sondik as EMT 1
- Travis Roberts as Driver
- Caleb Keith Kunkel as Catcher
- Ace Ng as Hernandez’s Son
- Mustafa Haidari as Suicide Bomber
- Dion Costelloe as Officer Yeagers
- Kevin Sebastian as EMT 2
- Michael Wagemann as Guard
- Josue Canales as Punk
- Matt Consalvo as EMT 3
- Charley Tucker as Army Joint Chief
- Johnny Vincent as Medic
- Aaron Uribe as Punk #2
- Paige Herschell as Hostess
- Michelle Foard as Flight Attendant
- Jose Vasquez as Punk #4
- Brittney Bluitt as Sergeant Medic
- Kimberly Dodson as Nurse (Kate’s OR)
- Ryan T. Johnson as Aspen’s Boyfriend
- Oliver Avila as Mexican Border Agent
- Crystal Chau as Physician
- Shanna Bess as Trauma Nurse
- Casey Schryer as Waitress
- Stephan Godleski as Bouncer
- Jack Herholdt as Charge Nurse
- Chris Lindsay-Abaire as Dr. Shipley
- Eunice Bae as Nurse (Neil’s OR)
- Jadaya Bivins as Cheerleader #1
- Andrew Haserlat as Anesthesiologist
- Todd Terry as Ronnie
- Kirsten Kendall as Migrant Girl
- Daniella M Reyes as Migrant Girl
- Sofie Calderon as Atzi
- Padrick Shadeck as Security
- Justen Michael Roberts as Private
- Patricia De Leon
Storyline:
SPECIAL OPS: LIONESS, inspired by an actual US Military program, follows the life of Zoe (Saldaña) while she attempts to balance her personal and professional life as the tip of the CIA’s spear in the war on terror. The Lioness Program, overseen by Kaitlyn Meade (Kidman) and Donald Westfield (Kelly), enlists an aggressive Marine Raider named Cruz (De Oliveira) to operate undercover alongside Joe among the power brokers of State terrorism in the CIA’s efforts to thwart the next 9/11.
About Series:
Lioness was announced in September 2020 as part of Paramount+’s programming slate. Renewed for a second season in May 2024, the series cast Zoe Saldaña in February 2022 as its star.
Filming commenced in Delaware in September 2022 and continued in Mallorca in January 2023. In May 2023, the title was updated to Special Ops: Lioness, though the title card remained unchanged. With the second season’s renewal, the title reverted to Lioness.
The series soundtrack was composed by Andrew Lockington, known for collaborating with Taylor Sheridan on Mayor of Kingstown. Lakeshore Records has released the soundtrack.
Production for the second season began in May 2024, moving from Baltimore to Texas, with Sheridan directing the third episode. Filming concluded on August 29, 2024.
On June 8, 2023, Paramount+ released a first-look trailer. The eight-episode series premiered on July 23, 2023, with a two-episode launch, followed by weekly releases. A red-carpet event planned for July 18, 2023, at the Directors Guild of America Theatre was canceled due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.
The second season premiered with a two-episode launch on October 27, 2024.
The series set a record for Paramount+’s most-watched worldwide series premiere on launch day, drawing nearly 6 million viewers in its first week. This record was later surpassed by Lawmen: Bass Reeves, another Sheridan production, with 7.5 million viewers globally within seven days. Special Ops: Lioness emerged as one of Paramount+’s most-watched global premieres of 2023.
Episodes:
| Season | Episodes | Aired Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | July 23, 2023 – September 3, 2023 |
| 2 | 16 | October 27, 2024 – December 8, 2024 |
Season 1
| Episode | Title | Air Date | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1.E1 | Sacrificial Soldiers | Sun, Jul 23, 2023 | Joe faces turmoil on a mission, deals with family challenges, and must select a new recruit. Cruz seeks a way out of danger. |
| S1.E2 | The Beating | Sun, Jul 23, 2023 | Joe’s intense training methods test Cruz, who bonds with Aaliyah. Neal faces a difficult situation with a patient. |
| S1.E3 | Bruise Like a Fist | Sun, Jul 30, 2023 | Cruz spends a weekend with Aaliyah’s circle as Joe updates Kaitlyn on her progress. Kyle asks Joe for urgent assistance. |
| S1.E4 | The Choice of Failure | Sun, Aug 6, 2023 | Cruz’s actions in the Hamptons raise doubts, while Kaitlyn and Westfield confront Kyle over a border incident. |
| S1.E5 | Truth Is the Shrewdest Lie | Sun, Aug 13, 2023 | After Kate’s accident, Joe and Neal address family fallout, while Cruz’s cover risks exposure on a new mission. |
| S1.E6 | The Lie Is the Truth | Sun, Aug 20, 2023 | Cruz bonds with Aaliyah; Joe and Kaitlyn face repercussions for the San Antonio mission during a debrief. |
| S1.E7 | Wish the Fight Away | Sun, Aug 27, 2023 | Aaliyah and Cruz grow closer, and Joe helps Cruz wrestle with doubts as the mission nears completion. |
| S1.E8 | Gone Is the Illusion of Order | Sun, Sep 3, 2023 | As suspicions rise, Eshan confronts Cruz before the wedding, and Joe prepares the team for unexpected dangers. |
Season 2
| Episode | Title | Air Date | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2.E1 | Beware the Old Soldier | Sun, Oct 27, 2024 | Joe, Kyle, and the QRF team undertake a risky extraction after a government official is kidnapped by a cartel. |
| S2.E2 | I Love My Country | Sun, Oct 27, 2024 | With a new Lioness identified, Joe and her team head to Iraq to secure the asset. |
| S2.E3 | Along Came a Spider | Sun, Nov 3, 2024 | Kaitlyn garners support for their operation, while Captain Josie Carrillo begins her Lioness training. |
| S2.E4 | Five Hundred Children | Sun, Nov 10, 2024 | Joe and Kyle contact a new intel source, and the expanded team executes a mission with unexpected results. |
| S2.E5 | Shatter the Moon | Sun, Nov 17, 2024 | A discovery in a warehouse shocks the team, leaving Joe to juggle two pressing missions. |
| S2.E6 | 2831 | Sun, Nov 24, 2024 | Events escalate at the Carrillo estate as Josie takes decisive action. |
| S2.E7 | The Devil Has Aces | Sun, Dec 1, 2024 | Despite Joe’s weakened state, the team is forced back to Iraq to make a point. |
| S2.E8 | The Compass Points Home | Sun, Dec 8, 2024 | Operation Sky Hawk is a go as Kaitlyn and Westfield pressure Pablo to side with them. |