In a move that's hardly surprising given the show's buzz, Paramount+ has officially renewed Lioness for a third season. The espionage thriller, crafted by Taylor Sheridan, stars Zoe Saldana as the tough CIA operative Joe McNamara. Announced just yesterday, the renewal comes hot on the heels of Season 2's premiere last October, which drew solid viewership numbers across the globe.
Saldana, no stranger to high-stakes roles after her Avatar fame, leads alongside Nicole Kidman as Kaitlyn Meade, the program's overseer. Indeed, the duo's chemistry has been a standout, pulling in audiences who crave that blend of grit and glamour in Sheridan's universe. Production kicks off this month in Fort Worth, Texas, promising more intense missions against terror networks. Season 3 will mark the series' expansion into new territory, with hints of deeper personal stakes for the Lioness team.
However, not everything's smooth sailing. Fans have waited longer than expected for this greenlight—Season 2 wrapped up nearly a year ago, leaving some plot threads dangling a bit too loosely. Moreover, the delay might stem from Sheridan's packed schedule; the guy's juggling multiple hits like Yellowstone spin-offs. Still, Paramount seems confident, citing Lioness as one of their top performers since its 2023 debut, when it racked up millions of streams in the first week alone.
The show's premise, following female operatives in the CIA's covert ops, resonates in today's world, though critics occasionally point to its formulaic Sheridan tropes—explosive action undercut by domestic drama. Saldana herself teased the news earlier, confirming her commitment through at least three seasons during a recent interview. Filming in Texas could infuse fresh authenticity, drawing on local talent and landscapes for those high-tension sequences.
Indeed, with Season 3 on the horizon, viewers might wonder if the series can sustain its edge without repeating beats. What does this mean for the future of female-led thrillers on streaming?