I’m so excited to hear that Lioness is coming back! It’s been almost two years since Season 2 finished on Paramount+, but we’ll finally get Season 3 in October 2026. For those who don’t know, it’s a really intense military spy drama created by Taylor Sheridan, and it stars the amazing Zoe Saldaña as Joe McNamara. The show follows this incredible team of female CIA operatives working undercover in the Middle East. Season 2 was tough – we lost some characters, which was heartbreaking – but it also means fresh faces will be joining the team for the new season, and I can’t wait to see what happens!
Season 3 of Lioness is getting a fresh look with some new actors joining the cast, along with a few changes to the existing lineup. While we can expect more casting news before the October premiere, it’s exciting to see who’s returning alongside the new faces. As Zoe Saldana leads her team on a challenging new mission, get ready to reconnect with familiar characters and meet some new ones!
Zoe Saldaña Headlines the Returning Characters for ‘Lioness’ Season 3
Zoe Saldaña, who recently won an Oscar, will reprise her role as Joe McNamara in the upcoming season of Lioness, set to premiere on Paramount+ in October 2026. As a determined CIA officer seeking to overcome a personal tragedy and rebuild her career, Joe leads the Lioness Program – a covert team of female operatives dedicated to disrupting terrorist groups during the Iraq War.
While dealing with increasing work demands, Joe is also committed to her family. To continue portraying that balance on screen, Dave Annabel and Hannah Love Lanier will return as her on-screen husband, Neal, and daughter, Kate McNamara, in the third season.
Nicole Kidman as Kaitlyn Meade
Nicole Kidman, who won an Oscar for her work in The Hours, will return as Kaityln Meade in Season 3 of Lioness. Kaityln is a top CIA official who oversees the Lioness program. She’s Joe’s boss, providing support and getting the team out of trouble, but she also has to answer to her own questionable boss, Byron Westfield (Michael Kelly), who is the CIA’s Deputy Director of Operations.
Morgan Freeman as Edwin Mullins
Morgan Freeman, the Academy Award-winning actor known from Million Dollar Baby, will return to Lioness for its third season, bringing his serious and authoritative presence to the role. He plays Edwin Mullins, the U.S. Secretary of State, who is responsible for managing relationships with other countries and advising the President on foreign policy. As the Lioness program’s secret operations put American lives at risk, Mullins questions Kaitlyn Meade’s leadership and takes a more hands-on role in the program as the season unfolds.
Michael Kelly as Byron Westfield
Michael Kelly, known for his role in House of Cards, will likely return as Byron Westfield in Season 3 of Lioness. Westfield is a CIA Deputy Director who works in the shadows, frequently approving secret and unauthorized military and intelligence operations. He’s willing to push legal boundaries if he believes it serves U.S. interests in the fight against terrorism. As Kaitlyn Meade’s boss, he often clashes with her over the best way to carry out risky undercover missions.
Thad Luckinbill as Kyle McManus
Thad Luckinbill, known for his role in Reptile, will join the cast of Lioness as Kyle McManus in its third season. McManus is a skilled and fearless CIA extraction expert – a bit of a risk-taker – who specializes in dangerous rescue operations. He also has deep knowledge of Mexican cartels, which proved crucial in Season 2’s events on the Mexican border, and will likely be a central part of the story in Season 3.
Laysla De Oliveira as Cruz Manuelos & Genesis Rodriguez as Josephine Carillo
Laysla De Oliveira will reprise her role as Cruz Manuelos, the Marine recruited into the Lioness program last season. This season, Cruz operates as a key undercover agent, now part of the U.S. Army’s Delta Force. Her mission: to get close to Captain Josephine Carillo (Genesis Rodriguez), whose father leads a powerful Mexican cartel and is holding an American politician hostage.
Cruz and Josephine’s romance threatens the Lioness’ operation. Their relationship is left hanging at the end of Season 2, and Rodriguez will be back as Josie in Season 3, still struggling to choose between her feelings for Cruz and her family obligations.
Quick Reaction Force (QRF) Members
When Joe McNamara and his Lioness team need extra support for their covert missions, they call on Bobby (Jill Wagner) and her Quick Force Reaction (QRF) team. Bobby leads a group of highly trained men with military backgrounds, and we can expect to see them back for more intense action in Season 3.
The Quick Reaction Force team is back, with Lamonica Garrett playing Tucker, James Jordan as Two Cups, Austin Hebert as Randy, and Jonah Wharton as Tex. Besides adding interesting male-female interactions, the team also makes the power structure within the Lioness program clearer.
A Taylor Sheridan Alum Leads the Crop of New ‘Lioness’ Season 3 Characters
Now that we know who’s returning, let’s look at the new cast members for Season 3 of Lioness. So far, only a few actors have been announced, and it seems Taylor Sheridan is bringing in someone he’s worked with before. Variety reports that Ian Bohen, known for his roles in Yellowstone and Wind River, will play Grady – a highly skilled Delta Force operator who specializes in K9 handling and battlefield tactics.
I’m hearing some interesting casting news for Season 3 of Lioness. Deadline reported that Elizaveta Neretin is joining the show, though details about her role are still under wraps. Fans of Taylor Sheridan might recognize her – she appeared in an episode of Mayor of Kingstown. And for those who enjoy a bit of superhero action, she also had a role as Maria Volkova in a 2020 episode of The Flash. It’ll be fun to see what she brings to Lioness.
In January, Variety announced that Lev Gorn, known for his roles in For All Mankind and The Americans, would be joining Season 3 of Lioness. He’s set to play a recurring character: an international Deputy Ambassador with a penchant for luxury.
While unsubstantiated, IMDb lists several casting additions for Season 3. They include:
- Drew Ferguson (Elkhorn) as Bandit
- Asen Grigorov (Dr. Death) as Kuznestov
- Jack Dimich (Vera) as Alexy Yurimov
- Kyle Promisco (The Madison) as a CIA Covert Ops Field Unit Member
- Will Koberg (Walker) as an FBI Agent
- Vini Hedglen (The Lowdown) as Diner Guest
- Gordon Butler (1923) as Business Pedestrian
- Ardis Stembridge (Landman) as Restaurant Patron
- Joe Burris (Landman) as Restaurant Patron
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2026-04-03 15:37