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Paramount+ has made its first major move since being acquired by Skydance, landing Discretion, a high-profile legal thriller starring Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning. The streamer has given the project a straight-to-series order following an intense bidding war, marking a defining moment for its new leadership team under Cindy Holland, Paramount’s recently appointed Chair of Direct-to-Consumer.
Produced by A24, Discretion comes from The Husbands author Chandler Baker, who wrote and executive produces the series alongside Susannah Grant (Unbelievable). The eight-episode drama centers on Lenny (Fanning), a summer associate at a prestigious Dallas law firm, who uncovers a web of non-disclosure agreements concealing a disturbing truth. When she realizes she’s bound by one of these NDAs, her discoveries place her in direct conflict with Sharon (Kidman), the firm’s most powerful female partner and her mentor — igniting a dangerous power struggle that examines who gets to keep secrets and what the price of silence really is.
The series fits squarely within Holland’s strategy to expand Paramount+’s programming beyond its existing cornerstones — the Taylor Sheridan universe, Star Trek franchises, and CBS next-day content. Speaking to Deadline earlier this year, Holland said she aims to “entertain all audiences around the world” and emphasized that Paramount+ will now buy from third-party studios to secure “the best stories, regardless of the producing entity.”
That approach has already paid off. Discretion, from an external supplier in A24, represents the kind of bold, female-driven storytelling Holland and her EVP of Originals, Jane Wiseman, have been pursuing to balance the platform’s male-skewed lineup. The series also signals a new era of creative partnerships at Paramount+, leveraging Holland’s long-standing relationships from her Netflix years — where she oversaw landmark hits like House of Cards, Stranger Things, and The Crown.
A24 fast-tracked Discretion from page to screen in record time. The indie studio acquired Baker’s yet-to-be-published short story in a seven-figure deal, then quickly assembled a powerhouse creative team: Kidman and Fanning (who previously worked together on The Beguiled and A24’s upcoming Margo’s Got Money Problems), and Grant, who joined as executive producer. From acquisition to greenlight, the entire process took less than four months — remarkably swift by industry standards.
Production on Discretion is slated to begin in 2026. The series will be executive produced by Baker and Grant, alongside Kidman and Per Saari for Blossom Films; Elle and Dakota Fanning and Brittany Kahan Ward for Lewellen Pictures; and Jordan Cerf and Joe Hipps via A24-based Cut To.
For Paramount+, this is more than a series order — it’s a statement of intent. The streamer’s new regime is signaling a pivot toward ambitious, premium originals that can compete with the biggest players in the business. With A24’s pedigree, a powerhouse cast, and Holland’s strategic vision, Discretion could become the signature project that defines the next phase of Paramount+’s evolution.
