logo
Special Ops: Lioness, Starring Zoe Saldaña and Nicole Kidman, Coming to MENA Screens

Special Ops: Lioness, Starring Zoe Saldaña and Nicole Kidman, Coming to MENA Screens

Web Release03-06-2025

In a major content acquisition that solidifies STARZPLAY's position as the MENA's premium streaming destination, the platform has secured exclusive MENA rights to 'Special Ops: Lioness' – the critically acclaimed CIA thriller starring Avatar's Zoe Saldaña, Oscar winner Nicole Kidman, and legendary Morgan Freeman.
The high-octane series, which has captivated global audiences with its unflinching portrayal of modern warfare and espionage, will launch exclusively on STARZPLAY on June 5, with all 16 episodes from both seasons available immediately.
A Powerhouse Cast in an Uncompromising Story
Created by Taylor Sheridan, the mastermind behind global phenomenon 'Yellowstone' and 'Sicario,' Special Ops: Lioness delivers the raw intensity that has become Sheridan's signature. The series follows CIA operative Joe (Saldaña) as she navigates the brutal realities of the agency's most classified program – recruiting female operatives to infiltrate hostile networks from the inside.
'This isn't your typical spy thriller,' explains the show's premise. 'It's about the invisible women who sacrifice everything – their identities, families, and safety – to protect national security. These are the stories that have never been told.'
Nicole Kidman commands the screen as senior CIA official Kaitlyn Meade, while Morgan Freeman brings gravitas to his role as Secretary of State Edwin Mullins. The cast is rounded out by breakout star Laysla De Oliveira as Marine Raider Cruz Manuelos, the latest recruit into the deadly Lioness program, and Michael Kelly as CIA operative Byron Westfield.
Streaming Details:
Platform: STARZPLAY (exclusive in MENA)
Launch Date: June 5, 2025
Format: Complete box-set (16 episodes across 2 seasons)
Availability: All episodes streaming from day one
For more information, please visit: www.starzplay.com

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Evolution of Brad Pitt, from personal turmoil to era-defining superstardom
Evolution of Brad Pitt, from personal turmoil to era-defining superstardom

The National

time3 days ago

  • The National

Evolution of Brad Pitt, from personal turmoil to era-defining superstardom

There are few actors who have commanded as much attention both on screen and off as Brad Pitt. While the ups and downs of his personal life have often dominated headlines, he has simultaneously built one of the richest filmographies in history over the past four decades, featuring blockbusters and cult favourites, and even stepped into the role of producer with Oscar-winning films. And at 61, he's showing no signs of slowing down. This month, Pitt stars in F1: The Movie. Ahead of the action-sport film's Abu Dhabi premiere, we look back at the evolution of one of modern cinema's most reliable stalwarts. 1963-1990: Early life and small roles William Bradley Pitt was born on December 18, 1963, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, before moving to Springfield, Missouri. He was the eldest of three children. His father, William Alvin Pitt, owned a trucking company, while his mother, Jane Etta, worked as a school counsellor. Both of his parents encouraged him and his siblings to pursue their interests, fostering creativity and ambition. As a teenager, Pitt took part in drama classes and school plays but initially studied journalism and advertising at the University of Missouri. Two years into his studies, he decided to pursue a career in acting instead. In 1986, Pitt moved to Los Angeles with just $325 to his name. He worked a variety of jobs including waiting tables and chauffeuring to support himself while attending acting classes. Early roles were small parts in television shows such as Dallas (1987-88) and 21 Jump Street (1988), which gave him exposure, but did not immediately lead to stardom. 1991: Breakthrough with Thelma & Louise Pitt's breakthrough came in 1991 with the release of Ridley Scott's Thelma & Louise. His portrayal of a charismatic drifter who captures the hearts of the lead characters, played by Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon, earned him critical acclaim and introduced him to a wider audience. The film's success marked a turning point in Pitt's career, opening doors to more significant roles. 1992-1995: Transition to leading man In the early 1990s, Pitt starred in period dramas such as A River Runs Through It in 1992, and Interview with the Vampire and Legends of the Fall, both in 1994, which showcased his ability to carry emotional and complex roles while playing the love interest. His career took a darker turn with David Fincher's murder mystery Se7en in 1995, where he played a capable detective alongside screen veteran Morgan Freeman. That same year, Pitt earned his first Academy Award nomination in the Best Supporting Actor category for his role in Terry Gilliam's 12 Monkeys, a sci-fi film about time travel and the end of the world. His rise hit some turbulence in 1998, when Pitt starred in the romantic film Meet Joe Black, a remake of the 1934 film Death Takes a Holiday. The film received mixed reviews from critics who began to question Pitt's ability to portray the straight romantic lead, leading to a significant adjustment in how he presented himself to audiences moving forward. 1999: From heart-throb to Fight Club In 1999, Pitt's previously conceived image of a heart-throb would be challenged as he took on the role of Tyler Durden in Fincher's Fight Club. While the film divided critics and audiences upon release, it later became a cult classic and significantly raised Pitt's profile. His portrayal of the character has also transcended cinema, turning the character into a controversial cultural icon for certain corners of modern masculinity. Fight Club was a true turning point for Pitt and the types of roles he would take on. He followed it up with leading roles in Guy Ritchie's Snatch in 2000, then The Mexican, Spy Game and Ocean's Eleven in 2001. While he still had the looks of a romance novel cover star, Pitt eschewed that archetype, purposefully undermining that image with gruff, deeply flawed characters from the fringes of society. That interplay came to define his career. The switch not only added depth to those roles, but altered his persona moving forward – while also foreshadowing some of his more public struggles. 2000-2016: Personal life in the spotlight Pitt's personal life attracted significant media attention throughout the 2000s. He married actress Jennifer Aniston, from the hit sitcom Friends, in 2000, and they became one of Hollywood's most famous couples. The marriage ended in 2005. That same year, Pitt began a relationship with actress Angelina Jolie. The pair met on the set of the action film Mr. & Mrs. Smith the year prior. Together, they became known as 'Brangelina' and built a blended family with six children, three of whom were adopted internationally. Pitt and Jolie married in 2014, but separated two years later. Their divorce proceedings were widely covered in the media and revealed allegations of abuse by Jolie, which were denied by Pitt's representatives. The fallout from the divorce revelations hurt Pitt's public image and reputation, furthered by his children's choice to sever ties with him. 2010s-present: Awards recognition behind and in front of the camera In the 2010s, Pitt continued to appear in diverse and challenging roles even amid his struggles off-camera. In Bennett Miller's Moneyball from 2011, he played Billy Beane, the real-life baseball executive who almost took the Oakland A's to the World Series. The role earned Pitt his third Academy Award nomination. His second nomination came in 2009 for his role in Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. A defining moment of the decade came with Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood from 2019. Pitt's performance as stuntman Cliff Booth won him his first Academy Award for acting the following year. He had already won his first Oscar as producer for Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave in 2014. Pitt stepped into the producer role in 2006 with Martin Scorsese's The Departed. Since then, he has been credited as producer on celebrated and acclaimed films such as The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, The Tree of Life, The Big Short and Ad Astra. Through his production company Plan B, Pitt has often championed stories of filmmakers of colour such as the Asian-American immigrant tale Minari directed by Lee Isaac Chung, and the 2025 Best Picture nominee Nickel Boys, a tale of systemic racism against the black community in 20th-century Florida directed by RaMell Ross. Pitt's latest roles have also directly been inspired by his personal struggles. For Bullet Train, he told Et bil Arabi: 'That's what drew me to the role. This man who's trying to grow – but also somewhat regressing – on his way to being a better person. My own experience with self-help and therapy allowed me to [make light] of that. 'There are moments when you have one epiphany and you think you have the whole egg figured out, and then you step in a pile of crap the next day. This was making fun of that, and I took great pleasure in it.' With F1: The Movie shaping up to be one of his biggest yet, another film about a late-career comeback, Pitt's interplay between personal and professional seems set to continue long into the future.

Tom Cruise to receive honorary Oscar in career first
Tom Cruise to receive honorary Oscar in career first

Al Etihad

time5 days ago

  • Al Etihad

Tom Cruise to receive honorary Oscar in career first

17 June 2025 23:46 LOS ANGELES (AFP)US actor and film producer Tom Cruise will receive an honorary Oscar ahead of the 2026 Academy Awards, the organisers said Tuesday, marking a career first for the Hollywood was selected to receive a statuette for his contributions to cinema, along with choreographer Debbie Allen and production designer Wynn Parton will also be awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her decades-long humanitarian work, with the trophies presented at the Academy's 16th Governors Awards event in 62, has had four Oscar nominations but has never won the prestigious prize, despite achieving global fame for his roles in action films 'Mission: Impossible' and 'Top Gun'."Tom Cruise's incredible commitment to our filmmaking community, to the theatrical experience, and to the stunts community has inspired us all," the Academy said in a praised him as "one of the most recognised and highest-grossing actors of all time" and noted his commitment to performing all of his own 75, was recognised for her five-decade career that has included choreographing the Academy Awards ceremony seven times and working on films including 1995 rom-com "Forget Paris." Meanwhile, Thomas was saluted for his production work on titles such as 'Malcolm X' and 'Do the Right Thing'.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Carrie-Anne Moss make magic in 'Fubar' season 2
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Carrie-Anne Moss make magic in 'Fubar' season 2

Dubai Eye

time7 days ago

  • Dubai Eye

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Carrie-Anne Moss make magic in 'Fubar' season 2

Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger had to admit that it took him a lot of practice to nail the tango scene with co-star Carrie-Anne Moss for season 2 of the Netflix action-comedy series "Fubar". "We practiced. We practiced a lot, and she didn't need as much practice as I did, but I really practiced," the former California governor told Reuters. The Terminator actor recalled doing the first take for the dance scene and impressing everyone with how ready they were. "They just thought we were rehearsing, but they did not know that we were that prepared for the whole thing," Schwarzenegger said with a smile. Fubar season 2, created by Nick Santora and produced by Skydance Television and Blackjack Films, premiered on Netflix last Thursday. The story follows Luke Brunner, played by Schwarzenegger and his daughter Emma, played by Monica Barbaro, who are both CIA operatives. Their fellow CIA team members include Barry Putt, played by Milan Carter, Boro Polonia, played by Gabriel Luna, Roo Russell, played by Fortune Feimster and Aldon Reese, portrayed by Travis Van Winkle. In season 2, Brunner is back to working with his CIA team, but things take an unexpected turn when he encounters his ex-lover Greta Nelson, played by Carrie-Anne Moss. Greta is a former East German spy who ends up going up against Brunner in both the tango and a tussling battle.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store