Looking for a good series to fill the Slow Horses-shaped hole in your life? We’ve got just the thing in the form of Lioness, the tremendously good substitute coming to ITVX that’s sure to satisfy your spy series cravings. The drama, which first aired on Paramount+ in 2023, stars Nicole Kidman and Zoe Saldaña as members of an all-female crew of undercover CIA operatives (the Lionesses), who are tasked with infiltrating terrorist organisations - and it’s as dangerous as it sounds.
From the creative mind of Taylor Sheridan, the genius behind the hit Paramount+ drama Yellowstone, the eight-part series follows the CIA team as they use subversive tactics - befriending the wives and girlfriends of dangerous terrorists - to try and thwart the next devastating terror attack. The questions is, just how far will they go in order to do it, and how much danger will they put themselves in along the way? Clue: a lot!
While Lioness is now in its second series, ITVX has nabbed series 1 to start with and we'd highly recommend tuning in. While we await its imminent arrival on the streamer, here’s everything you need to know Lioness, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
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What is Lioness about?
There’s a fascinating real-life element to the series, as Lioness is inspired by an actual CIA programme initiated in 2003 during the Iraq War. Team Lioness were an all-female squad of US Marines attached to combat units in Iraq and Afghanistan. They conducted searches of local women during raids and form friendships to gather intelligence and disseminate information.
In Lioness, the Lionesses are headed up on the ground by Joe McNamara (Zoe Saldaña) and overseen by Kaitlyn Meade (Nicole Kidman). As a high-ranking CIA official, Kaitlyn has to play the political game, using savvy moves to try and access power in Washington.
The official synopsis reads: “Lioness follows the life of Joe (Zoe Saldaña) while she attempts to balance her personal and professional life as the tip of the CIA's spear in the war on terror. The Lioness Program, overseen by Kaitlyn Meade (Nicole Kidman) and Donald Westfield (Michael Kelly), enlists an aggressive Marine Raider named Cruz (Laysla De Oliveira) to operate undercover alongside Joe among the power brokers of state terrorism in the CIA’s efforts to thwart the next 9/11.”
Saldaña and Kidman, who also executive produced the high-octane drama, forged a close bond during the production of Lioness, with Saldaña describing their friendship as “love at first sight”. Kidman told People that there was “an enormous amount of action in this show. We both had to work really hard, because [our characters] would share this fantastic dialogue, and you want to deliver on that. But it's also very physical and demanding. It's a rollercoaster ride.”
Who’s in the cast of Lioness series 1?
The cast of Lioness series 1 includes:
- Zoe Saldaña as Joe McNamara
- Laysla De Oliveira as Sergeant First Class Cruz Manuelos
- Dave Annable as Neal McNamara
- Jill Wagner as Bobby
- LaMonica Garrett as Tucker
- James Jordan as Two Cups, QRF member
- Austin Hébert as Randy, QRF member
- Jonah Wharton as Tex, QRF member
- Stephanie Nur as Aaliyah Amrohi
- Hannah Love Lanier as Kate McNamara
- Nicole Kidman as Kaitlyn Meade
- Morgan Freeman as Edwin Mullins, US Secretary of State
- Celestina Harris as Charlie McNamara
- Martin Donovan as Errol Meade
- Richard Haddad as Asif
- Bruce McGill as NSA Advisor Hollar
- Jennifer Ehle as Mason
Is there a trailer for Lioness series 1?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for Lioness series 1 below:
Is Lioness any good?
Yes - when it first aired on Paramount+ in 2023, Lioness was highly praised by viewers for its brilliant character development and unique plot. The spy thriller has also spawned a second series, which aired in October 2024 on Paramount+, and the good news is that it’s expected to arrive on ITVX at some point in 2026.
How can I watch Lioness?
Good news - there’s not long to wait! Lioness series 1 will arrive on ITVX on Friday 7th September - and it’s also currently available to watch on Paramount+. As we mentioned, series 2 is also expected to arrive on the streamer in 2026. As soon as we have more news, we'll share it here.
What other spy thrillers can I watch now?
Of course, there’s the incredible Slow Horses, which you should absolutely watch if you haven’t already. You can stream all 4 series on Apple TV+ now. The Night Agent, which follows a low-level FBI agent who discovers conspirators inside the US government while working in The White House - is also worth a watch. Series 1 and 2 are streaming now on Netflix. For more CIA agent material, check out Paramount+’s The Agency, which was produced by George Clooney and stars Michael Fassbender as a spy with an exceptional track record as one of the agency's most reliable operatives - that is, until he finds himself caught between his work and matters of the heart.
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