Watch for Morgan Freeman around Fort Worth. Taylor Sheridan’s ‘Lioness’ begins local shoot
Filming on the second season of Taylor Sheridan’s “Lioness” is officially underway in North Texas.
Previously titled “Special Ops: Lioness” for its first season, the series was renamed “Lioness” earlier this month in Paramount’s announcement that more was on the way. The show is the latest from “Yellowstone” creator and North Texas native Sheridan.
Paramount+ announced late last week that production on “Lioness” is underway in Texas. The series stars stars Zoe Saldana, Nicole Kidman, Laysla De Oliveira, Genesis Rodriguez, Michael Kelly and Morgan Freeman.
“Lioness” follows a CIA operative (Saldana), who attempts to balance her personal and professional lives as the tip of the spear in the agency’s war on terror. The first season premiered on Paramount+ in July 2023.
Where is ‘Lioness’ filming in Texas?
Paramount’s production announcement of “Lioness” season 2 only said the series had begun filming in Texas, but did not share any more information.
Taking into account calls for backgrund actors from local company Legacy Casting and permit filings with the City of Fort Worth, it paints a better picture as to where “Lioness” may be filming in Texas.
Recent city filings show that “Lioness” will film in Fort Worth around downtown, near Forest Park and by Benbrook Lake. No further details were given as to what scenes are being filmed at each location.
“Lioness” is also gearing up to film in other North Texas towns such as Weatherford, Graford, Cleburne and around Palo Pinto County, according to casting notices found on the MyCastingFile website.
This wouldn’t be the first time a Sheridan-created show has filmed in and around North Texas.
The “Yellowstone” prequel series “1883,” filmed scenes in the Fort Worth Stockyards. “Lawman: Bass Reeves” filmed a majority of its scenes in and around North Texas including Fort Worth, Weatherford, Strawn, Stephenville and Glen Rose.
Currently, another Sheridan-produce show, “Landman,” starring Billy Bob Thornton and Jon Hamm is filming in and around Fort Worth.
“Lioness” season 1 filmed in Maryland, Delaware, Washington D.C., Paris and Mallorca, Spain
What is ‘Lioness’ about?
“Lioness” is based on the real-life program of the same name used by the CIA.
During the Iraq war, insurgents would exploit women and use them for smuggling and other terrorist activities. Muslim tradition doesn’t allow men to touch a woman who isn’t related to them, therefore only American female service members were able to search them.
To combat this, the Lioness program was created to attach female Marines to combat units to search Iraqi women and children, according to the U.S. Marines.
Also starring in “Lioness” season 2 are actors Dave Annable, Jill Wagner, LaMonica Garrett, James Jordan, Austin Hébert, Jonah Wharton, Thad Luckinbill and Hannah Love Lanier.
The first season’s eight episodes was mostly written by Sheridan except for one episode that was co-written with screenwriter Tom Brady. Directing duty for the first season was split between John Hillcoat, Anthony Byrne and Paul Cameron.
In Paramount’s announcement, the clapperboard revealed that Sheridan is directing the third episode of “Lioness” season 2. It’s unknown at this time if Sheridan is directing more episodes of the series.
Whenever “Lioness” premieres its second season, it will do so on Paramount+. Fans can also catch up on the show’s first season via the streaming service.
