Taylor Sheridan says it’s ‘wild’ how this ‘Lioness’ season 2 storyline became true
Taylor Sheridan said he’s always tried to guess what’s going to happen in the world when he writes “Lioness.”
The espionage thriller series follows CIA operative Joe (Zoe Saldaña) as she balances her “personal and professional lives as the tip of the spear in the agency’s war on terror.” The Paramount+ show’s first two seasons are available now, while season 3 premieres in August after spending several months shooting in Fort Worth.
In a recent appearance on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” Sheridan delved into just how accurate “Lioness” has been in its first two seasons.
Here’s what he said.
Taylor Sheridan on real-world ties to ‘Lioness’
After Rogan asks Sheridan if he has a favorite show to write, the scribe say he doesn’t but enjoys “Lioness” a ton.
“The fun thing about ‘Lioness,’ which is, I can’t say ripped from the headlines because I’ve tried to guess what’s going to happen politically and then fictionalize that,” Sheridan said. “The fact that I’ve managed to be right is pretty [expletive] wild.”
Sheridan said he’s referring to the season 2 storyline about cartels being listed as terrorist organizations. He was sure that he would be on an “18-month cancel vacation” after the season came out, only to find that he was actually correct.
The “Lioness” season 2 finale released just a month before President Donald Trump designated cartels and other organizations as foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists in January 2025.
“It’s a lot of fun because it’s so political and it doesn’t choose a political side,” Sheridan said of “Lioness.” “It just looks at the tradecraft of espionage and how it intermingles with our military. It’s just fascinating [expletive] to me.”
More on ‘Lioness’
“Lioness” season 3 premieres on Sunday, Aug. 2.
“Hidden networks, foreign operatives, and personal betrayals collide. Joe (Saldaña) walks the line between duty and home as unseen forces circle her world. Patterns appear where they shouldn’t, names vanish, and paths rearrange. Guided by Kaitlyn (Nicole Kidman) and Westfield (Michael Kelly), Joe confronts enemies operating in the shadows, leaving her to reckon with a war that now reaches into every part of her life,” the season 3 synopsis states.
Over its five-month shoot, “Lioness” filmed in and around Fort Worth.
Scenes were shot at SGS Studios in the AllianceTexas area in far north Fort Worth, in downtown and around TCU in the University West and Berkeley Place neighborhoods.
In addition to Saldaña, “Lioness” stars Nicole Kidman, Morgan Freeman, 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 “Yellowstone” alum Ian Bohen.
“Lioness” seasons 1 and 2 are streaming on Paramount+.
