Lioness season 3: everything we know so far about the hit Paramount+ show's return

Lioness season 3 has entered production, which means we're one step closer to the return of the hit drama. Still vying for a place amongst the best Paramount+ shows, Taylor Sheridan's thriller boasts a star-studded cast and a heck of a lot of action, as well as very impressive viewing figures with 12.4 million global viewers for the season 2 premiere.

For season 3, in true Lioness fashion, we'd expect a totally different, but equally compelling, special undercover mission for the team of CIA operatives led by Joe (Zoe Saldaña). While we wait though, we've gathered all the intel we can about what's to come. Spoiler alert, there's a new character of Yellowstone fame.

Here's everything we know so far about Lioness season 3 from release date speculation, confirmed cast, plot rumors, and more.

Full spoilers follow for Lioness seasons 1 and 2. Potential spoilers are also discussed for season 3.

Lioness season 3: is there a release date?

We don't have a Lioness season 3 release date just yet, but we do know that the show is officially back in production.

After a renewal in August 2025, the cast and crew clearly weren't hanging around, which is great news considering it'll be more than a year between seasons, unlike the gap between 1 and 2. For a season 3 release date then, I'd predict late 2026.

Lioness season 3: has a trailer been released?

With Lioness season 3 currently in production, there's no sign of a trailer yet. For season 2's October 2024 release date, the trailer dropped a month before. So, if season 3 does come out around late 2026, I imagine a trailer won't appear until nearer that time, too.

Lioness season 3: confirmed cast

Spoilers follow for Lioness seasons 1 and 2.

With the Lioness cast and crew back in production, there's confirmed characters returning, as well as a new joiner:

• Zoe Saldaña as Joe
• Nicole Kidman as Kaitlyn Meade
• Morgan Freeman as Edwin Mullins
• Michael Kelly as Byron Westfield
• Laysla De Oliveria as Cruz Manuelos
• Genesis Rodriguez as Josephina Carrillo
• Dave Annable as Neal
• Jill Wagner as Bobby
• LaMonica Garrett as Tucker
• James Jordan as Two Cups
• Austin Hébert as Randy
• Jonah Wharton as Tex
• Thad Luckinbill as Kyle
• Hannah Love Lanier as Kate
• Ian Bohen as Grady

As per Variety, it has been confirmed that a new cast member will be joining the show, Yellowstone alum, Ian Bohen, who will play Grady. His role has been described as "a by-the-book Delta Force operator and primary K9 handler, skilled in battlefield tactics."

Lioness season 3: story synopsis and rumors

Full spoilers follow for Lioness seasons 1 and 2. Potential spoilers for Lioness season 3.

There was a lot going on in Lioness season 2 as the team headed out on the latest covert mission. Joe, Kaitlyn and Byron enlisted (fairly unwillingly) a new Lioness operative, Capt. Josephina "Josie" Carrillo, to take down a Mexican drug cartel – run by her own uncle.

Why? Well, they were responsible, along with a Chinese official, for the murder of a U.S. Congresswoman's husband and young son, as well her own kidnapping.

And this all culminated in an explosive finale with a whole lot of gunfire as the Lioness team tried to stop two Chinese nuclear scientists from entering a nuclear base in Iran. It's a long story, but you can watch season 2 to unfold the events in-between.

Unfortunately, said mission end took a turn for the worse and it seemed, for a few sad moments, that the Lioness team were about to meet their maker. Until, the sound of help arrived in the skies, led by Delta Force operator Cody Spears, aka the show's creator Taylor Sheridan. And somehow, everyone made it out alive.

At the end of it all though, Joe returned back to normality and to her loving husband and children, who were thankfully waiting with open arms, despite Joe's fear they wouldn't be.

So far, each season of Lioness has followed a different mission – and while there's been no plot details revealed for season 3, I'd predict the show will turn to something entirely new. Unfortunately, there's no mission intel yet, but we'll be sure to update here if a plot synopsis arrives.

Will there be more seasons of Lioness?

There's no news of a Lioness season 4 renewal, yet. It's fairly unsurprising to hear given season 3 didn't get its renewal until August 2025, some 10 months after season 2 premiered on Paramount+.

But, as per The Hollywood Reporter, this delay was reportedly "to accommodate the schedules of its star-filled cast." So, whether the stars can align for another season, we'll have to wait and see.

The only positive hint there's been so far from Zoe Saldaña about future seasons comes from an interview with Vanity Fair where she revealed she's "signed up for three seasons at least." Sure, it's not quite mention of a season 4, but we can hang our hope on 'at least'.

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