Zoe Saldañahas a new co-star in the upcoming Paramount+ seriesLioness. Today it was revealed thatLocke & KeystarLaysla De Oliveirawill be joining the cast to star opposite theGuardians of the Galaxyactress. The critically acclaimed co-creator ofYellowstone,Taylor Sheridan,is the mind behindLioness,which means it’s bound to be another action packed, thoughtful piece of television.
The series is centered around a real-life CIA program and will focus on Cruz Manuelos (De Oliveira). Manuelos was one of the Marine’s best and brightest soldiers who was then picked up by the CIA’s Lioness Engagement Team. Driven, determined, and tied to her duties, the program is lucky to have the new recruit as they set their sights on a terrorist organization. Saldaña will step into the role of commander, Joe. A natural-born leader, Joe cares deeply about her undercover agents and pushes them to be the best they can be through rigid training and scheduling. Being an empowering project based around women, the series will come as a breath of fresh air in an otherwise male dominated genre.
Along with starring in the show, Saldaña will work behind the camera in a role as executive producer, where she will be joined by the Academy Award-winning Nicole Kidman, who will be representing her Blossom Films production company.Tom Bradywill also serve as showrunner and executive produce alongside Sheridan,David C. Glasser,Ron Burkle,Bob Yari,David Hutkin,Geyer Kosinski, andJill Wagner.
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De Oliveira rose to prominence for her role as Dodge in Netflix’sLocke & Key. The streaming service’s series adapted its story from theJoe HillandGabriel Rodgiguezcomic book series of the same name and has been renewed to head into its third season. De Oliveira’s Dodge is the show’s main villain, a demonic entity who is constantly challenging the leading characters. Outside ofLocke & Key, De Oliveira has starred in the drama feature,Guest of Honour, andVincenzo Natali’s adaptation ofStephen Kingand Hill’s novella,In the Tall Grass. The Canadian native also nabbed a leading role in 2018’s indie-romance filmAcquaintedandJohn Ridley’s star-studded sci-fi flick,Needle in a Timestack.
With an ever-growing cast of dynamite performers,Lionessis shaping up to be an action packed, women powered, juggernaut of a series. While other details are being kept under wraps, we do know the series plans to begin production in June of this year.
