With Special Ops: Lioness, viewers are drawn into a tense world of conflict, secrets, and divided identities. Created by Taylor Sheridan, the spy show follows a woman leading high-risk operations while struggling to maintain her sense of self. The cast features Zoe Saldana, Nicole Kidman, and Morgan Freeman, some of today’s most prominent entertainment figures.
Balancing international intrigue with personal and domestic drama, the show explores the costs of duty, the weight of choices, and the search for truth. Here is everything you need to know about Special Ops: Lioness — the trailer is at the bottom of the article.
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Special Ops: Lioness – all the key details
- Original Title: Special Ops: Lioness
- Genre: Drama / Spy Thriller
- Country of Production: United States
- Original Language: English
- Year of Production: 2023 (Season 1) / 2024 (Season 2)
- Number of Episodes / Duration: 2 seasons, 16 episodes total; duration varies between approximately 38 and 57 minutes
- Director / Creator: Created by Taylor Sheridan
- Main Cast: Zoe Saldana, Laysla De Oliveira, Dave Annable, Jill Wagner, LaMonica Garrett, James Jordan, Austin Hébert, Jonah Wharton, Hannah Love Lanier, Nicole Kidman, Morgan Freeman
- Production: 101 Studios, Blossom Films, Bosque Ranch Productions, MTV Entertainment Studios
What Special Ops: Lioness is about
In a context where the war on terror is an invisible yet deadly stage, the series focuses on Joe, a CIA agent with a leadership role, and her struggles to manage both the operational front and family life. When an undercover mission goes wrong, Joe loses an agent and faces the need for a new recruit to revive the “Lioness” program, which uses female operatives to infiltrate terrorist circles through personal relationships. Enter Cruz, a young marine with a troubled past, called to play an infiltration role in a high-profile case.
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While Joe leads the operation and tries to protect her family, Cruz must build a double identity: on one side loyalty to her country and the program, on the other the burden of moral choices. The balance between sacrifice and guilt becomes increasingly fragile as the operation bends toward unforeseen outcomes, revealing that violence and psychological influence can wound more than weapons.
The cast of Special Ops: Lioness
Zoe Saldana stars as Joe McNamara, the tough and determined leader of the Lioness program, constantly navigating the balance between her maternal role and the extreme decisions her position demands. Laysla De Oliveira plays Cruz Manuelos, the operative chosen for infiltration, a character whose strength is tempered by trauma and inner conflict. Dave Annable portrays Neal McNamara, Joe’s husband and a doctor, whose relationship with her is tested by the pressures of her career and the constant dangers she faces.
Nicole Kidman appears as Kaitlyn Meade, a high-ranking CIA official whose oversight shapes the program, while Morgan Freeman takes on Edwin Mullins, a key institutional figure in the political-diplomatic arena. Among the operational team, Jill Wagner (Bobby), LaMonica Garrett (Tucker),James Jordan (Two Cups), Austin Hébert (Randy), and Jonah Wharton (Tex) bring both skill and personality to the missions.
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Special Ops: Lioness – our review
In the contemporary landscape of spy series, Special Ops: Lioness stands out as a tense and morally ambiguous drama, capable of weaving together the personal and geopolitical dimensions in a clash of shadows. The protagonist embodies a crucial conflict: how much leadership can demand, and how much vulnerability it can allow. Visually, the series offers truly remarkable moments: some scenes instill a sense of vertigo, and the action is portrayed with a dry realism that avoids the overly rhetorical exaltation so common in the genre.
Behind the Scenes of Special Ops: Lioness
The show is inspired by the real-life “Team Lioness”, an American military program that employed female operatives in patrol missions in Iraq, leveraging cultural insights for tactical advantage. Filming for the first season also took place in Mallorca, Spain, adding striking locations to the show’s intense action. The project initially carried the title Lioness, was promoted as Special Ops: Lioness for its launch, and later returned to Lioness for the second season. With Taylor Sheridan personally writing every episode of the first season, the series maintains a consistent style and cohesive narrative throughout.
Is Special Ops: Lioness based on a true story?
The show is not a direct adaptation, but it draws inspiration from the real concept of the Team Lioness used by the U.S. military in the Iraq conflicts, while the plot and characters remain works of fiction.
When to watch the show on Netflix
Special Ops: Lioness is already available on Netflix.
► Watch Special Ops: Lioness on Netflix
The Trailer
This article is part of Streamingmania’s ongoing coverage of spy TV series and movies, from classic espionage icons to modern intelligence thrillers.
