Special Ops: Lioness Secures Third Season After Record-Breaking Success on Paramount+

Continued Success for Paramount+’s Elite Spy Thriller

The hit spy thriller series ‘Lioness,’ which first premiered on July 23, 2023, on Paramount+, has launched its second season on October 27, 2024, and has recently been renewed for a third season on August 15, 2025.

The series follows the intense world of undercover CIA operations in the war on terror, focusing on female operatives known as Lionesses. At its core is Joe McNamara, played by Zoe Saldaña, a CIA senior case officer who oversees the Lioness program in the field, alongside Laysla De Oliveira as Sergeant First Class Cruz Manuelos.

Record-Breaking Performance

The second season has demonstrated remarkable success, garnering 3 million views in its first week and ranking as the #4 Paramount+ original in terms of domestic household premieres. The show has achieved an impressive total of 12.4 million viewers globally across all platforms.

The latest season has reached 8.3 million domestic households, showing a 10% increase from season 1’s 7.6 million viewers. According to Nielsen’s data, the second season has maintained strong positions in the original series chart, reaching #8 and #5 during consecutive weeks.

Star-Studded Evolution

The second season features returning stars Zoe Saldaña, Laysla De Oliveira, Michael Kelly, and Nicole Kidman, with Morgan Freeman promoted to a series regular. The cast has been expanded with the addition of Genesis Rodriguez and recurring roles for Max Martini, Kirk Acevedo, and Patricia de Leon.

Critical Reception

The series has maintained a solid critical reception with a 72% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, matched by a similar 73% audience score. Its first season set a record as Paramount+’s most-watched worldwide series premiere on its launch day, attracting nearly 6 million viewers in its first week globally.

Critics particularly praise Zoe Saldaña’s performance as the series’ most effective asset, noting her impressive ability to transition between her character’s roles as both a soldier and a family woman. Her portrayal of Joe’s struggle to balance military operations with domestic life has been highlighted as especially compelling.