(Special Ops:) Lioness In The Media

[AnimeMania]

Special Ops: Lioness is an eight episode Drama TV Series streaming the first two episodes on July 23, 2023 on Paramount+.

Special Ops: Lioness is based on an actual real-life US Military/CIA program and follows Joe, a strong-willed, hard-nosed station chief of the CIA’s Lioness Program who's task is training, managing and leading her female undercover operatives working to assassinate the world’s most dangerous terrorists and prevent the next 9/11. The Lioness program focuses on the wives and daughters of high-value targets, place an operative close to them, and then neutralize the target. The hope is that the women will go unnoticed and underestimated. Cruz is an aggressive Marine Raider recruited to the Lioness Program to get close to the money, the wealthy elite who live large while secretly funding violence that destabilizes countless others. Cruz must befriend Aaliyah, the daughter of a billionaire with terrorist connections, to try to bring the organization down from within. Cruz can handle situations where the enemies are shooting at you, but how about interpersonal relationships, shopping, clubbing, dancing and high heels. 

Morgan Freeman as Edwin Mullins, U.S. Secretary of State.

Michael Kelly as Donald Westfield, the CIA Deputy Director, a senior supervisor who oversees The Lioness Program.

Nicole Kidman as Kaitlyn Meade, the CIA’s senior supervisor who oversees The Lioness Program, who has had a long career of playing the DC politics game to keep her program alive. She must juggle the trappings of being a woman in the high-ranking intelligence community, a wife who longs for the attention she herself can’t even give and a mentor to someone veering suspiciously close to the same rocky road she’s found herself on.

Zoe Saldaña as Joe, a strong-willed, hard-nosed station chief of the CIA’s Lioness Program who is tasked with training, managing and leading her female undercover operatives

Dave Annable as Neil, Joe’s husband and the father of their two daughters. 

Hannah Love Lanier as Kate, Joe and Neil’s daughter.

LaMonica Garrett as Tucker, experienced CIA Special Activities Division operative on Joe’s team.

James Jordan as Two Cups, experienced CIA Special Activities Division operative on Joe’s team.

Austin Hébert as Randy, a tech specialist in charge of surveillance and gathering intelligence within the Strike Team of the CIA Special Activities Division.

Jonah Wharton as Tex, a CIA Special Activities Division Operative on Joe’s team.

Thad Luckinbill as Kyle, an old friend of Joe’s who oversees a trafficking contact.

Jill Wagner as Bobby, a CIA Special Activities Division Operative

Laysla De Oliveira as Cruz Manuelos, a rough-around-the-edges but passionate young Marine Raider recruited to join the CIA’s Lioness Engagement Team, who has recently left an abusive relationship.

Stephanie Nur as Aaliyah, the daughter of a billionaire businessman with ties to terrorism.

[Joimiaroxeu]

Up until I found out Taylor Sheridan is the creator and showrunner, I was into this.

Nope, Sheridan is already spread too thin with his 47 Yellowstone spinoffs for this show not to start off with promise and then do a rapid descent into mediocrity.

[AnimeMania]

Special Ops: Lioness       July 23, 2023      Paramount+

Episodes 1-2   Titles and Descriptions

S01.E01: Sacrificial Soldiers

Things go awry for Joe and her team during a mission out in the field; Joe is left devastated. Upon her return home, Joe's family life presents it's own challenges. Cruz tries to escape a dangerous situation. Joe must choose a new recruit.

S01.E02: The Beating

Joe continues her training with Cruz; her methods are questionable. Cruz starts to build a relationship with Aaliyah. Kate gets into a fight during her soccer game. Neal has to deliver difficult news to a patient.

[Snazzy Daisy]

I am still sceptical about Sheridan and his ability to write compelling and layered female characters. So, we’ll have to see about this.

The CGIs are quite distracting.

Jill Wagner is almost unrecognizable as Bobby. I hope we get to see more of Bobby too, not only Joe and Cruz.

So far, there’s nothing interesting about Kaitlyn Meade. But there must be more to this character since…well, it’s Nicole Kidman!

After 2 episodes, I still don’t care about Joe’s husband, their daughters and their open marriage.

It’s annoying that they make it so easy for Cruz to approach the HVT’s daughter - her FIRST mark. Just go into a designer store and stage a meet-cute. Then wallaaa - instant besties! 🙄

[AnimeMania]

‘Special Ops: Lioness’: Taylor Sheridan Espionage Thriller Off To Strong Start With Record Audience On Paramount+

The Special Ops: Lioness first episode which aired on Paramount+ and Paramount Network became Paramount Global's most-watched (in its first 24 hours) global series premiere, topping the previous record set by Halo in March 2022. Special Ops: Lioness Episode 1 reached nearly 6M views on Paramount Network and Paramount+ globally after three days.

[Cranberry]

We're getting interviews about the show now -- they couldn't promote it during the strike. ‘Special Ops: Lioness’ Star Laysla De Oliveira On Playing A CIA Recruit For Taylor Sheridan: “It Physically Hurt, And Emotionally Hurt, Too”

[Snazzy Daisy]

Special Ops: Lioness Renewed For Season 2 at Paramount+

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Paramount+ has renewed Taylor Sheridan’s spy thriller show ‘Special Ops: Lioness‘ for season 2. The filming of the upcoming installment will start in Mexico on an undisclosed date. Sheridan continues to serve as the showrunner of the series with John Hillcoat returning as a director.

The return of Laysla De Oliveira, who portrays the pivotal character Cruz, is uncertain, given the conclusion of her character’s arc in the first season. 

 

[AntFTW]

11 minutes ago, Snazzy Daisy said:

Special Ops: Lioness Renewed For Season 2 at Paramount+

 

I hope the writing is better.

[KeithJ]

https://www.dexerto.com/tv-movies/taylor-sheridan-special-ops-lioness-season-2-change-2517835/
 

According to this article it looks like season 2 will have a whole new cast.  Not sure I care for that idea that much.

[dwmarch]

I think that could work. I'm not sure I'd love a season 2 with the same characters but I wouldn't mind some of them popping up in supporting roles here and there.

[Snazzy Daisy]

Renewed for season 2 with a new title.

 

Edited May 9 by Snazzy Daisy

[Snazzy Daisy]

 

[Snazzy Daisy]

 

[AnimeMania]

Season 2 of Lioness is currently in production in Texas.

Edited May 23 by AnimeMania

[Snazzy Daisy]

Mike Heslin Dies: Actor In ‘Lioness’ & ‘The Holiday Proposal Plan’ Was 30

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Actor Mike Heslin, whose most prominent role came on Taylor Sheridan’s Lioness, has died after an unexpected cardiac event and a week-long hospitalization. He was 30. The news was announced by his husband, Nicolas James Wilson.

Heslin appeared as Polo on two episodes of Lioness, Season 1. He also had a part in Lifetime’s The Holiday Proposal Plan last year as well as on Younger in 2016.

 

[AnimeMania]

Lioness Season 2 is currently filming.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C9fV6zvPKM8/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=96d6b385-3914-429f-a35a-178a7e2d9d8f

[Snazzy Daisy]

Lioness Season 2 Adds The Umbrella Academy’s Genesis Rodriguez

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Rodriguez will fill the Season 2 role of Captain Josephina “Josie” Carillo, a fierce and dedicated helicopter pilot.

“It’s a strange relationship” that Joe and Josie share, says series lead Saldaña. “There’s a lot of mistrust from the beginning.”

 

[Snazzy Daisy]

‘Lioness’ Sets Season 2 Premiere Date At Paramount+; Unveils First-Look Photos

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Paramount+ has set Sunday, October 27 for the Season 2 premiere of Taylor Sheridan‘s Lioness. The second season will launch with two episodes, exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and international markets where the service is available. The streamer also released some first-look photos.

 

Nicole Kidman as Kaitlyn Meade and Zoe Saldana as Joe in Lioness.

Zoe Saldana as Joe in ‘Lioness’.

 

Nicole Kidman as Kaitlyn Meade in ‘Lioness’.

 

Morgan Freeman as Secretary of State Mullins in ‘Lioness’.

 

Genesis Rodriguez as Josie Carillo in ‘Lioness’.

 

Bruce McGill as NSA Chief Damian Hollar, Jennifer Ehle as Chief of Staff Mason, Morgan Freeman as Secretary of State Mullins, Michael Kelly as Bryon Westfield and Nicole Kidman as Kaitlyn Meade in ‘Lioness.

 

Edited August 28 by Snazzy Daisy

[BetterButter]