Lioness – the new series that filmed in Maryland for six months last year – will premiere on Sunday, July 23. From the creator of Yellowstone (Taylor Sheridan), the Paramount+ production filmed in eight counties, including both the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. metropolitan suburbs, as well as Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore.

The series was projected to spend approximately $70 million in the state, while hiring a significant crew and purchasing or renting goods and services from numerous local small businesses. An official economic impact review and audit is expected to be completed over the next few months.

“We are so proud to see the many locations that Maryland has to offer on this stage and are excited to tune in for the Lioness premiere,” said Governor Wes Moore. “This significant investment in our state reinforces Maryland’s capacity to emerge as a leader in the industry and we look forward to seeing more of Maryland and our workforce in future projects.”

Created and executive produced by Academy Award nominee Taylor Sheridan (Yellowstone, 1883, Mayor of Kingstown), Lioness stars Zoe Saldaña and Laysla De Oliveira. Also joining the cast is Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman and the Emmy-nominated Michael Kelly. Over the course of six years, Kelly portrayed the character Doug Stamper in the Maryland based Netflix series House of Cards—whose final season generated an economic impact of more than $100 million in the state. Kelly also produced and starred in the independent film All Square, which filmed in Maryland in 2017.

Saldaña also served as a Lioness executive producer alongside Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman and her production company, Blossom Films. Kidman – who is also no stranger to Maryland – filmed the science fiction horror film The Invasion in Maryland in 2005. Lioness was also executive produced by David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, David Hutkin, Jill Wagner, Geyer Kosinski, Michael Malone, and John Hillcoat.

Lioness is based on a real-life CIA program and follows Cruz Manuelos (De Oliveira), a rough-around-the-edges but passionate young Marine recruited to join the CIA’s Lioness Engagement Team to help bring down a terrorist organization from within. Saldaña will play Joe, the station chief of the Lioness program tasked with training, managing, and leading her female undercover operatives. The series also stars James Jordan (Yellowstone), LaMonica Garrett (1883) and Dave Annable (Yellowstone).

To learn more about films and television series made in Maryland, visit marylandfilm.org .

Photo courtesy of Paramount