Zoe Saldaña gives an update on Special Ops: Lioness season 2, indicating doubts about a renewal. A spy thriller created by Yellowstone‘s Taylor Sheridan, the Paramount+ show premiered in July 2023. Based on a real-life CIA program, the story follows Cruz Manuelos (Laysla De Oliveira) as a young Marine who’s recruited to join the CIA’s Lioness Engagement Team to bring down a terrorist organization from within. Along with De Oliveira and Guardians of the Galaxy star Saldaña, the show also stars Nicole Kidman, Morgan Freeman, and House of Cards actor Michael Kelly.
After De Oliveria recently expressed uncertainty about Special Ops: Lioness season 2, Saldaña struck a similar tone in an interview with Comicbook.com. Although the show has been touted as a success in viewership and even got a physical media release, the star mentioned that the writers’ and actors’ strikes might have impacted the spy thriller’s chances. Still, the Avatar alum touched on the aspects of the series that resonated. Read her quote below:
I’ve heard things here and there. I certainly hope so. We were nervous, especially Nicole [Kidman] and I. We had hope. We were so hopeful that this was gonna find its community. But it’s driven by women, where women are at the helm. And they’re wearing hats that men normally wear. And then when we started our promotion, our press tour for it, we were struck with a strike. So we were swimming upstream. And then to know that the first month of Lioness coming out it became the most-watched series on Paramount+ at that time. It just made us so grateful and happy and excited, and we know that the studio was super excited, Paramount+ was excited, and so was Paramount. I’m friends with Brian Robbins, the CEO of Paramount, and he and his wife were so excited to watch Lioness and that meant everything to Nicole and I.
Why Special Ops: Lioness Season 2 Might Still Happen
Saldaña mentions the Hollywood strikes, which affected fellow Paramount+ series Wolf Pack. The recently canceled supernatural drama was reportedly on track to be renewed. It would have cost more for Paramount+ to advertise the show’s eventual return due to the delays at a time when the streamer was looking to cut spending, which factored into the cancelation decision. Considering it has been months since Special Ops ended with season 1, it could be facing a similar calculus.
However, Special Ops season 2’s fate may differ since it was a hit for Paramount+. The streamer claimed that the series broke viewership records, specifically that it had the most-watched global series premiere in its first 24 hours. At the time of its release, it beat Yellowstone and previous record-holder Halo. These positive marks are backed up by the Nielsen streaming charts, where the spy thriller performed strongly relative to other Paramount+ originals.
10 Best TV Shows To Watch Like Special Ops: Lioness
Following the season 1 finale of the spy thriller series Special Ops: Lioness, fans can check out these 10 shows if they are already missing it.
With the cancelation of Wolf Pack, only three high-profile Paramount+ originals haven’t yet been renewed. One is the Frasier revival, which star and executive producer Kelsey Grammer indicated will likely return. The remaining two are Lawmen: Bass Reeves and Special Ops: Lioness, both with Sheridan’s involvement. Their fates will likely be clarified in the coming weeks and months, with hopes that either freshman show will continue beyond their single season.
Special Ops: Lioness
- Release Date
- July 23, 2023
- Cast
- Zoe Saldana , Nicole Kidman , Morgan Freeman , Laysla De Oliveira , Michael Kelly , Dave Annable , Jill Wagner , LaMonica Garrett , James Jordan , Austin Hébert
- Seasons
- 1
- Story By
- Taylor Sheridan, Jill Wagner
- Writers
- Taylor Sheridan , Jill Wagner
- Streaming Service(s)
- Paramount+
- Directors
- Anthony Byrne , Paul Cameron
- Showrunner
- Taylor Sheridan
