Key facts
- Series: Lioness
- Season: 3
- Genre: Spy thriller/drama
- Creator: Taylor Sheridan
- Streaming: Paramount+
- Starring: Zoe Saldaña, Michael Kelly, with Morgan Freeman and Nicole Kidman
- New cast member: Ian Bohen
- Premiere date: Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026
- Episodes: 8
Lioness is returning for a new season starting Sunday, Aug. 2, with a cast that rocks from top to bottom. We start with the star, Oscar® winner and executive producer Zoe Saldaña, who’s back as Joe McNamara. Joining Saldaña in this espionage thriller from Taylor Sheridan is Oscar® winner and executive producer Nicole Kidman as Kaitlyn Meade.
Lioness Season 3 also stars Oscar® winner Morgan Freeman, Emmy® nominee Michael Kelly, Laysla De Oliveira, Dave Annable, Jill Wagner, LaMonica Garrett, James Jordan, Genesis Rodriguez, Austin Hébert, Jonah Wharton, Thad Luckinbill, Hannah Love Lanier and newcomer Ian Bohen. Keep reading to get the lowdown on the actors, their characters, and what’s known about their Season 3 roles.
Who’s in the Season 3 cast?
Check out the new and returning faces tackling the most dangerous mission to date in Lioness Season 3:
- Zoe Saldaña as Joe McNamara
- Nicole Kidman as Kaitlyn Meade
- Morgan Freeman as Edwin Mullins
- Michael Kelly as Byron Westfield
- Laysla De Oliveira as Cruz Manuelos
- Dave Annable as Neal McNamara
- Jill Wagner as Bobby
- LaMonica Garrett as Tucker
- James Jordan as Two Cups
- Genesis Rodriguez as Josephina Carrillo
- Austin Hébert as Randy
- Jonah Wharton as Tex
- Thad Luckinbill as Kyle McManus
- Hannah Love Lanier as Kate McNamara
- Ian Bohen as Grady
Meet the cast
So let’s jump in and get to know the team heating up the screen this summer:
Zoe Saldaña as Joe McNamara
Oscar® winner and executive producer Zoe Saldaña plays Joe McNamara, the fearless and strong-willed station chief of the CIA Lioness program. She is the one who trains, manages, and leads the undercover team working to take out the world’s most dangerous threats. Joe struggles to balance duty and home life, and Season 3 will see the danger hitting close to home.
Where you’ve seen her: Emilia Pérez, Avatar, Colombiana, Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Trek (2009)
Nicole Kidman as Kaitlyn Meade
Joe’s boss, Kaitlyn Meade, is played by Oscar® winner and executive producer Nicole Kidman. Kaitlyn is a high-ranking CIA officer who oversees the Lioness team and program. She works closely with Joe and plays the strategic politics game in DC. In Season 3, she helps guide Joe confront a dangerous enemy operating in the shadows.
Where you’ve seen her: Moulin Rouge!, The Hours, Practical Magic, Eyes Wide Shut, Big Little Lies
Morgan Freeman as Edwin Mullins
Oscar® winner Morgan Freeman plays the bold, risk-taking U.S. Secretary of State Edwin Mullins. Edwin is not afraid to push back against Joe, Kaitlyn, and the CIA to get the outcome he wants.
Where you’ve seen him: Million Dollar Baby, Street Smart, The Shawshank Redemption, Driving Miss Daisy, Seven, Now You See Me, The Dark Knight, Glory
Michael Kelly as Byron Westfield
Working alongside Kaitlyn Meade in DC is the CIA Deputy Director of Operations Byron Westfield, played by Emmy® nominee Michael Kelly.
Where you’ve seen him: House of Cards, Dawn of the Dead, Chronicle, Man of Steel, Jack Ryan, Now You See Me
Laysla De Oliveira as Cruz Manuelos
Cruz Manuelos, played by Laysla De Oliveira, is a tough and competent young Marine recruited to be a Lioness operative in Season 1. She completes her mission and leaves the team, but is convinced to return in Season 2 to help the new Lioness operative. Cruz ends the season with a newfound romance and a team who barely makes it out alive after a dangerous mission.
Where you’ve seen her: Locke & Key, In the Tall Grass, Guest of Honour
Dave Annable as Neal McNamara
Dave Annable plays Joe’s husband, Neal McNamara. He is the father of their two daughters and works as a pediatric oncology surgeon. He holds down the fort at home when Joe is on mission, but clashes with her over her demanding job.
Where you’ve seen him: Brothers & Sisters, Yellowstone, Walker, You May Not Kiss the Bride
Jill Wagner as Bobby
Jill Wagner, an executive producer of the show, plays CIA Special Activities Division operative Bobby. She is the team leader for the Lioness Quick Reaction Force (QRF) and is a strong, skilled soldier. Bobby was injured during an intense gunfight in the Season 2 finale, but made it out fine.
Where you’ve seen her: Wipeout, Mystery 101, Splinter, Braven, Stargate: Atlantis
LaMonica Garrett as Tucker
LaMonica Garrett is the actor who plays Tucker, an operative on Joe’s QRF team. He is a mechanically inclined Marine and an experienced soldier. He takes a bullet to the leg in the Season 2 finale, but escapes the mission alive.
Where you’ve seen him: Designated Survivor, 1883, Sons of Anarchy, Primal, Osiris
James Jordan as Two Cups
Another member of Joe’s team is CIA operative Two Cups, played by James Jordan. He is Tucker’s right-hand man and got his name from a memorable mission in Thailand. Things look dire for Two Cups after he is shot in the Season 2 finale, but the team is saved last minute.
Where you’ve seen him: Landman, Yellowstone, Wind River, Mayor of Kingstown, 1883
Genesis Rodriguez as Josephina “Josie” Carillo
Josie Carillo, the Lioness operative in Season 2, is played by Genesis Rodriguez. She is a skilled helicopter pilot who is recruited into the program to infiltrate her own family. Josie struggles to betray her family, but with the help of Cruz, decides to join the program. She sustains a brutal leg injury when her helicopter crashes, but is rescued in the nick of time.
Where you’ve seen her: Dame Chocolate, The Night Agent, Tusk, Big Hero 6
Austin Hébert as Randy
Austin Hébert plays Randy, the tech specialist on Joe’s QRF team. He is in charge of surveillance and gathering intel. He narrowly escapes a high-stakes mission in the Season 2 finale.
Where you’ve seen him: Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, Above Suspicion
Jonah Wharton as Tex
Another member of the Lioness QRF team is Tex, played by Jonah Wharton. He is actually not from Texas, but he got his nickname after shaving his beard and looking like Matt Dillon (from the 1982 movie Tex). In the Season 2 finale, Tex takes a bullet to the stomach, but survives.
Where you’ve seen him: NCIS, The Requiem Boogie, The Rookie, Bones
Thad Luckinbill as Kyle McManus
Kyle McManus, played by Thad Luckinbill, is a CIA officer who works with the Lioness team from time to time. He is an old friend of Joe’s who takes big risks in the field that usually pay off.
Where you’ve seen him: The Young and the Restless, 12 Strong, Just Married, Sicario
Hannah Love Lanier as Kate McNamara
Hanna Love Lanier plays Kate McNamara, Joe and Neal’s oldest daughter. Kate is injured in a car crash in Season 1, which pulls Joe off a mission. In Season 2, she discovers her mother’s real job after spotting her on TV.
Where you’ve seen her: Road House, A Black Lady Sketch Show, The Tiny Mighty Club
Ian Bohen as Grady
Ian Bohen joins the cast as a series regular for Season 3 as Grady. Grady is a by-the-book Delta Force operator and K9 handler.
Where you’ve seen him: Yellowstone, Air Force One Down, Teen Wolf, Wind River
How to watch
You can watch Lioness Season 3 on Paramount+ with a subscription. The new season premieres Sunday, Aug. 2. A new episode will launch weekly on Sundays through the season finale. When you have your subscription, you can also catch up on all episodes of Seasons 1 and 2, available to stream now.
Get the watch info for the new season below:
Lioness Season 3
- Premiere date: Sunday, Aug. 2 2026
- Release schedule: New episodes launch weekly on Sundays
- No. of episodes: 8
- Streaming: Paramount+
Watch now on Paramount+
Lioness Season 3 is just around the corner, so now is the time to stream Seasons 1 and 2 and catch up before the new episodes drop. Check back on Sneak Peak for coverage throughout the season, and gear up for an exciting new mission!
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