Taylor Sheridan Spy Series Lioness Becomes Streaming Hit

Weeks after its third season wrapped, creator Taylor Sheridan has moved far beyond the Dutton Ranch. Best known for Yellowstone and its spin-offs, Sheridan helms an espionage thriller that showcases his versatility as a showrunner.

Lioness stars Academy Award-winning actress Zoe Saldaña as Joe McNamara, a high-ranking Central Intelligence Agency officer. Joe oversees a specialized program that sends women undercover into regions suspected of terrorist activity. The series exposes the dark sides of global politics without flinching. The missions of the Lioness program are not always successful, and losses land heavily. Saldaña is supported by a cast of big-name actors including Nicole Kidman, Morgan Freeman, and Michael Kelly, who make the boardroom action feel just as intense as the battlefield.

Lioness proves its staying power on streaming

Lioness took a risk by changing its formula for the third season. The first and second seasons introduced female military personnel tasked with infiltrating major terrorist groups, while the third season kept most of its action on American soil. In the first two seasons, viewers heard about the dangers of Joe’s job, but she always managed to outmaneuver gruesome situations. In season three, Joe faces a life-or-death scenario when she is ambushed and kidnapped by foreign agents. Saldaña peels back her character’s layers to reveal vulnerability and reach a breaking point.

The risk paid off for Sheridan and the series. At the time of writing, Lioness has remained on Paramount+’s list of top 10 most-watched shows in the United States for over 210 days alongside titles like South Park and NCIS, according to data aggregator FlixPatrol. Additionally, the third season holds an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The first season sits at 54%, while the second season holds a 90% rating.

Lioness Season 4 not yet confirmed

No official news has confirmed whether Lioness will receive a fourth season, but the season three finale leaves plenty of open threads. The final moments revealed the person responsible for orchestrating Joe’s kidnapping, introducing a familiar face who creates trouble for Joe and her entire team. That plot potential and global popularity make a cancellation unlikely.

Such a delay is normal for Paramount+, which often takes months after a season ends to announce renewals. Season three was announced in October 2025, about ten months after season two ended. In an interview with Screen Rant, actress and producer Jill Wagner said, “We’re going to get a season 4. We will, we will. When people see what [Sheridan] wrote for the finale, we are getting a season 4. Or I will pay you $100.”

Paramount+ holds the final decision while fans wait.

Source: Polygon