When war stops being just a matter for armed men and moves into the shadows, Special Ops: Lioness steps in to show it with raw intensity. Created by Taylor Sheridan (Yellowstone, Sicario), the series mixes espionage, covert operations, and psychological drama, following a group of CIA women infiltrating terrorist cells in the Middle East. Realism, tension, and a metronome rhythm: this series doesn’t fire at random.

The essentials: what it’s about and who’s in it 

Premiered in 2023 on Paramount+, Special Ops: Lioness opens a new branch of Sheridan’s military universe. The story follows Joe, played by Zoe Saldaña, a veteran CIA agent in charge of running the “Lioness” program — a team of female operatives working alongside male agents in enemy territory. 

The central mission revolves around Cruz Manuelos (Laysla De Oliveira), a Marine recruited to infiltrate the life of a terrorist leader’s daughter. What begins as a routine operation turns into a game of morality, identity, and survival.

The cast also features Nicole Kidman (as CIA supervisor Kaitlyn Meade) and Morgan Freeman (Secretary of State Edwin Mullins).

How they make it “credible”, key points 

• Military and intelligence advising: Sheridan’s team worked with former CIA and Marine members to ensure that protocols, jargon, and covert operations were realistic, without glorifying or demonizing the work.

  

• Filming in real locations: shot in Morocco, Spain, and the United States, the contrast between the desert and Langley offices gives viewers a constant sense of double life.

  

• Pre-training of the actresses: Zoe Saldaña and Laysla De Oliveira underwent weeks of training with special operations instructors, including shooting routines, combat, and endurance drills.

  

• Tactical thriller pacing: handheld camera, constant tension, and a balanced mix of direct action and inner conflict. Sheridan applies the same narrative pulse as in Sicario.

Real curiosities (to share with friends) 

• Real inspiration: the “Lioness Engagement Team” program actually existed within the Marines; it was a female unit designed to interact with women in war zones where men could not.

  

• The Sheridan signature: the creator of Yellowstone, Mayor of Kingstown and Tulsa King continues expanding his universe of stories about moral gray areas, power, and institutional violence.

  

• Luxury casting: Nicole Kidman not only acts but also co-produces the series with Sheridan, giving the project a more introspective tone. 

• Second season already available and a third on the way: Paramount+ has announced the renewal for a third season after the success of the second, promising new missions and a more international tone.