Taylor Sheridan’s ‘Special Ops: Lioness’ Quietly Greenlit For Season 3

• 10 months after the second season’s finale aired/streamed, Paramount+ has officially renewed Taylor Sheridan’s Special Ops: Lioness for season 3.
• The hit CIA drama starring Zoe Saldana and Nicole Kidman has consistently commanded major viewership; the green light’s delay was due to the latter’s contract negotiations.
• The Special Ops: Lioness season 3 release date is currently TBA (stay tuned for updates).

While the rest of the world seems occupied by her recently announced divorce from Keith Urban, we’re more interested in the fact that Australia’s own Nicole Kidman is reuniting with both co-star/executive producer Zoe Saldana and showrunner Taylor Sheridan (Yellowstone, Tulsa King, Sicario) for a third season of Paramount+’s Special Ops: Lioness.

Despite not quite matching the debut instalment’s taut pacing and quality, Special Ops: Lioness still attracted considerable eyeballs – the amount that usually warrants an instant series renewal. According to Deadline, the lengthy delay was due (in part) to the fact that while the Academy Award-winning Saldana already had a three-season agreement, Kidman was required to negotiate a fresh contract to appear on screen.

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At this stage, the leading ladies are expected to be (re)joined by another Oscar winner in Morgan Freeman, Michael Kelly, Laysla De Oliveira, Genesis Rodriguez, Dave Annable, Jill Wagner, LaMonica Garrett, James Jordan, Austin Hébert, Jonah Wharton, Thad Luckinbill, and Hannah Love Lanier.

Special Ops: Lioness season 2 centred upon a battle on the homefront – specifically against the cartels – which was facilitated by the recruitment of a new Lioness operative: US Army Apache pilot Captain Josephina Carrillo (Rodriguez). [SPOILERS] As per the CIA playbook, it essentially culminated in a last-minute coup/execution of the criminal syndicate’s head to make way for the installation of “the devil they knew,” i.e. a puppet outlaw to police an unwinnable situation.

It is unclear whether Special Ops: Lioness season 3 will continue with this story arc or whether Saldana’s Joe McNamara, Kidman’s Kaitlyn Meade, and Kelly’s Byron Westfield are set to take on a new threat with Marine-turned-Lioness Cruz Manuelos (De Oliveira) & Co.

We’ve said it once and we’ll probably say it a million times more, but between this, the burgeoning post-Kevin Costner Yellowstone universe, and as covered earlier this week, another war on drugs-related feature-length project – F.A.S.T. – on the boilerplate, Taylor Sheridan has been working like a man possessed. Or rather, a man with a $200 million mortgage on his hands.

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The Special Ops: Lioness season 3 confirmation arrives as Tulsa King starring Sylvester Stallone returns for season 3, spin-off NOLA King fronted by Samuel L. Jackson rolls cameras in earnest, and Landman season 2 with Billy Bob Thornton, Demi Moore, as well as Sam Elliot is just weeks away from premiering.

Keep an eye out here for updates on Special Ops: Lioness season 3 (release date, cast, trailer, news). In the meantime, revisit the first season via Netflix Australia and both seasons on Paramount+.

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