Sheridan’s expanding TV footprint
Taylor Sheridan has become a defining voice in contemporary TV drama, building a recognizable creative sphere that spans neo-Westerns and high-stakes action series. Alongside well-known projects such as Yellowstone, 1883 and the newer Landman, Sheridan created Lioness — a female-led, espionage-driven thriller that has steadily grown into one of Paramount+’s standout originals.
What Lioness is and where it started
Lioness debuted in the summer of 2023 as a tense, character-focused action series centered on an undercover counterterrorism program. Zoe Saldana leads as Joe McNamara, a CIA senior case officer who heads the clandestine team. From its premise, the show balances kinetic, tactical sequences with a greater emphasis on the moral and psychological stakes of covert work, a trademark approach of Sheridan’s storytelling.
The series launched on July 23, 2023, and after two seasons it has built a loyal viewership and critical attention for its performances and grounded action.
Season 3: renewal, production and a bigger scale
Season 2 concluded on December 8, 2024. Paramount+ renewed the series shortly afterward, and production for Season 3 began soon after the renewal was secured.
Speaking with Screen Rant, actor James Jordan — who plays Two Cups, a seasoned special-operations soldier on the team — teased a marked increase in scope for the upcoming season. Jordan said “the scale is even bigger” and emphasized that the writing delves further into characters’ inner lives. He noted that Sheridan, who has an actor’s sensibility, is especially interested in exploring what motivates people beneath the surface — a focus Jordan says has intensified in Season 3.
Core cast and notable additions
Lioness assembles a high-profile ensemble anchored by:
- Zoe Saldana as Joe McNamara (lead CIA senior case officer)
- Nicole Kidman in a key role within the ensemble
- Jill Wagner as Bobby
- LaMonica Garrett as Tucker
- Austin Hébert as Randy
- Jonah Wharton as Tex
- Michael Kelly as Byron Westfield
- Morgan Freeman as Edwin Mullins
- James Jordan as Two Cups
For Season 3 the cast expands further. Ian Bohen — a familiar presence from the broader Sheridan universe — has been promoted to series regular, and Elizaveta Neretin has been cast in a major role. These additions suggest new narrative threads and a broadened geographic or operational footprint, though specifics have not been revealed.
What we know (and don’t) about Season 3
Confirmed:
- Season 2 finale aired December 8, 2024.
- The series was renewed and filming for Season 3 began shortly afterward.
- Cast returns include Saldana, Kidman, Garrett and others; Ian Bohen and Elizaveta Neretin are new principal additions.
- Taylor Sheridan continues to lead creative efforts, with Jill Wagner credited among the writers and directors on past episodes including Anthony Byrne and Paul Cameron contributing behind the camera.
Unconfirmed:
- Plot details for Season 3 remain under wraps. The show’s creative team has kept storyline specifics tightly controlled, though comments from cast point to deeper character work and an expanded scale of action and stakes.
Why the series matters
Lioness stands out in Sheridan’s portfolio by foregrounding an all-female-led undercover team within the espionage genre while maintaining his signature interest in character psychology. That combination of procedural intensity and intimate character study has helped the show grow beyond a simple action series into a character-driven drama that viewers return to for both the thrills and the human complexity.
Where to watch
Lioness streams on Paramount+. Further updates on Season 3 — including trailers, episode counts and premiere dates — will likely be released by the network as production progresses.