On Screen

e Greeneville Sun, Greeneville, TN July 22 - 28, 2023 — 3 By Jay Bobbin One of the most popular ac- tresses in cable movies is also the co-creator of one of streaming's newest series. A veteran of Hallmark Channel who now does work for Great American Family, Jill Wagner ("Mystery 101") teamed with writer-producer Taylor Sheridan ("Yellowstone," "Tulsa King") to create the international espionage thriller "Special Ops: Lioness," which Paramount+ debuts Sunday, July 23. Zoe Saldana ("Avatar: The Way of Water," 2022) has the central role of a military operative who has a special assignment at the front of the ongoing war against global terrorism. Nicole Kidman ("Big Little Lies") and Michael Kelly ("House of Cards") portray the supervisors of the largely female-driven Lioness program, which actually exists, and which Saldana's character works within alongside a Marine Raider (Lay- sia De Oliveira). Wagner effectively created a part for herself since she also has a co-starring role in "Lioness," whose cast includes Morgan Freeman ("A Good Person," 2023), LaMonica Garrett ("Designated Survivor"), James Jordan ("Wind River," 2017) and Dave Annable ("Brothers & Sisters") as well. Wagner knew Sheridan from before his current run as a powerhouse producer, also supplying the Paramount+ series "Mayor of Kingston" and "Tulsa King" as well as the "Yellowstone" prequels "1883" and "1923," and they reunited to develop "Lioness" together. (Garrett, Jordan and Annable have worked for Sheridan before in some of his other shows.) The new series features Wag- ner in a role that night not sur- prise those who know the former "Wipeout" co-host's work from the shows "Blade" and "Teen Wolf," though fans of her gen- teel work in virtually all of her cable movies might not expect the toughness of her "Lioness" character Bobby from her. That's in keeping with the theme of the show, of course, but it's an area Wagner hasn't delved into much lately. Similarly, Kidman has played it tough on occasion, though that's also a relatively rare sit- uation. The 2018 movie "De- stroyer" is an excellent example, effective to the extent that at the time of the undercover-detective drama's release, the Oscar-win- ning actress' husband — coun- try-music superstar Keith Urban — admitted (albeit jokingly) to being a little afraid of her, given the rugged nature of her portray- al in that film. Kidman has been no stranger to home-screen work in recent years, and before her movie stardom, she began her career by doing television in Australia (where she grew up, though she was born in Honolulu). "Five Mile Creek," "Vietnam" and "Bangkok Hilton" were among her 1980s credits before her main focus shifted to feature films, and it would be almost 30 years until TV became a part of her resume again. BOXING SATURDAY 10 p.m. (ESPN) Boxing George Kambosos Jr. vs. Maxi Hughes. IBF world title eliminator bout, 12 rounds. (Live) EXTREME SATURDAY 1 p.m. (6) (13) X Games California 2023 (Live) 8 p.m. (ESPN2) X Games Summer X Games 2023, Day 2. (Live) SUNDAY 1 p.m. (6) (13) X Games California 2023 (Live) FOOTBALL SATURDAY 1 p.m. (ESPN2) Women's Football WFA National Championship: Teams TBA. From Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. (Live) GOLF SATURDAY 6 a.m. (USA) 2023 Open Championship Third Round. From Royal Liverpool Golf Club Hoylake in Hoylake, England. (Live) 7 a.m. (5) (10) 2023 Open Championship Third Round. From Royal Liverpool Golf Club Hoylake in Hoylake, England. (Live) 4 p.m. (11) LPGA Tour Golf Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, Final Round. From Midland Country Club in Midland, Mich. (Live) 4 a.m. (USA) 2023 Open Championship Final Round. From Royal Liverpool Golf Club Hoylake in Hoylake, England. (Live) SUNDAY 6 a.m. (USA) 2023 Open Championship Final Round. From Royal Liverpool Golf Club Hoylake in Hoylake, England. (Live) 7 a.m. (5) (10) 2023 Open Championship Final Round. From Royal Liverpool Golf Club Hoylake in Hoylake, England. (Live) HORSE RACING SATURDAY 3 p.m. (39) Horse Racing Saratoga Saturday. From Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. (Live) 5 p.m. (5) (10) Horse Racing Breeders' Cup Challenge Series. (Live) SOCCER SATURDAY 8 a.m. (39) FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Denmark vs. China. Group D. (Live) SUNDAY 6 a.m. (39) FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 France vs. Jamaica. Group F. (Live) TUESDAY 10:25 p.m. (ESPN2) Men's International Soccer Friendlies (Live) WEDNESDAY 9 p.m. (39) FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 United States vs. Netherlands. Group E. (Live) THURSDAY 9:55 p.m. (ESPN2) Soccer (Live) 2 x 2.5" ad a) swango's b) greene cnty farmers 2 x 4" ad a) Greene Hemp b) House 2 x 1.5" ad ymca 2 x 1.5" ad doughty stevens Cover Story Cover Story Seeing action: 'Special Ops: Lioness' debuts on Paramount+ One Y. One Community. 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