Season 1

**Season 1** of the Paramount+ espionage thriller *Special Ops: Lioness* was picked up for a series order on September 15, 2020. It premiered on Sunday, July 23, 2023, with two episodes.

## Synopsis

*SPECIAL OPS: LIONESS* is based on a real-life program and follows Cruz Manuelos (De Oliveira), a rough-around-the-edges but passionate young Marine recruited to join the Lioness Engagement Team to help bring down a terrorist organization from within. Saldaña will play Joe, the station chief of the Lioness program tasked with training, managing and leading her female undercover operatives.

## Cast

### Main

* Zoe Saldaña as Joe McNamara
* Laysla De Oliveira as Cruz Manuelos
* James Jordan as Two Cups
* LaMonica Garrett as Tucker
* Dave Annable as Neal McNamara
* Stephanie Nur as Aaliyah
* Austin Hébert as Randy
* Jonah Wharton as Tex
* Hannah Love Lanier as Kate McNamara
* Nicole Kidman as Kaitlyn Meade
* Jill Wagner as Bobby
* Morgan Freeman as Edwin Mullins

### Supporting

* Sam Asghari as Kamal Al Rashdi
* Carla Mansour as Malika
* Adam Budron as Sami
* Martin Donovan as Errol Meade
* Michael Kelly as Byron Westfield
* Bassem Youssef as Asmar Ali Amrohi
* Thad Luckinbill as Kyle
* Ray Corasani as Ehsan Al Rashdi

## Production

* On September 15, 2021, Paramount+ ordered *Special Ops: Lioness* to series.
* On February 15, 2022, Zoe Saldaña was cast in the lead role.
* On March 18, 2022, Laysla De Oliveira was cast to star opposite to Saldaña.
* Production began in June 2022.
* On June 28, 2022, Taylor Sheridan took over as showrunner from Tom Brady, who agreed to part ways amicably after creative differences.
* Filming began September 2022.
* On September 6, 2022, James Jordan, LaMonica Garrett, and Dave Annable were cast as series regulars.
* On September 28, 2022, Stephanie Nur was cast.
* On September 29, 2022, Austin Hébert, Jonah Wharton, and Hannah Love Lanier were cast as series regulars.
* On November 16, 2022, Sam Asghari, Carla Mansour, Adam Budron, and Martin Donovan were cast in supporting roles.
* On January 5, 2023, Nicole Kidman and Jill Wagner were cast as series regulars.
* On March 8, 2023, Bassem Youssef was cast in supporting roles.
* On April 3, 2023, Thad Luckinbill was cast in supporting roles.

## Gallery

### Videos

Special Ops- Lioness - Official Teaser - Paramount+Special Ops- Lioness - Official Trailer - Paramount+
## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 VIACOMCBS UNVEILS BRAND FOR UPCOMING GLOBAL STREAMING SERVICE: PARAMOUNT+ - ViacomCBS Press Express
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 PARAMOUNT+ ANNOUNCES ZOE SALDAÑA TO STAR IN TAYLOR SHERIDAN’S “LIONESS” AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCE ALONGSIDE ACADEMY AWARD® WINNER NICOLE KIDMAN - ViacomCBS Press Express
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Laysla De Oliveira Joins Zoe Saldaña in Taylor Sheridan’s Paramount Plus Espionage Series ‘Lioness’ (EXCLUSIVE) - Variety
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 PARAMOUNT+ ADDS JAMES JORDAN, LAMONICA GARRETT AND DAVE ANNABLE TO NEW ORIGINAL SERIES “LIONESS” - ViacomCBS Press Express
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 ‘1883’ Alum Stephanie Nur Joins Taylor Sheridan’s CIA Drama ‘Lioness’ at Paramount+ (EXCLUSIVE) - Variety
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 ‘Lioness’: Taylor Sheridan’s CIA Drama Series Adds 3 To Cast - Deadline
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Kidman Joins Previously Announced Leads Zoe Saldaña and Laysla De Oliveira in Academy Award Nominee Taylor Sheridan’s New Espionage Series - ViacomCBS Press Express
8. ↑ ACADEMY AWARD® WINNER MORGAN FREEMAN JOINS ALL-STAR CAST OF PARAMOUNT+ ORIGINAL SERIES “LIONESS” - ViacomCBS Press Express
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Sam Asghari, Carla Mansour, Adam Budron, Martin Donovan Join Taylor Sheridan’s CIA Series ‘Lioness’ at Paramount+ (EXCLUSIVE) - Variety
10. ↑ Michael Kelly Joins Cast of Taylor Sheridan’s ‘Lioness’ (Exclusive) - Variety
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Taylor Sheridan’s CIA Drama ‘Lioness’ at Paramount+ Adds Bassem Youssef (EXCLUSIVE) - Variety
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 ‘Lioness’: Thad Luckinbill Joins Taylor Sheridan’s Series For Paramount+ - Deadline
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Taylor Sheridan Takes Over as Showrunner on Paramount+ CIA Drama Series ‘Lioness’ (EXCLUSIVE) - Variety