Paramount+ Scores Big with Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning Legal Drama ‘Discretion’
Paramount+ has just made a bold move that’s sure to shake up the streaming world. The platform has secured its first major series under new leadership—a gripping legal thriller titled Discretion, starring the powerhouse duo Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning, who will also serve as executive producers. But here’s where it gets controversial: this project was hotly contested in a bidding war, highlighting just how competitive the streaming landscape has become.
This exciting series comes from the acclaimed production company A24 and was snapped up mere weeks after it hit the market, receiving a straight-to-series order. This marks a significant milestone for Cindy Holland, the former Netflix executive who recently took the helm of Paramount+’s streaming division following the Skydance merger. Alongside Jane Wiseman, Paramount+’s head of originals, Holland is clearly setting a high bar with this first big greenlight.
Discretion is adapted from a short story by bestselling author Chandler Baker, who is also penning the series. The story centers on Lenny (played by Elle Fanning), a summer associate at a prestigious Dallas law firm. She stumbles upon a tangled web of nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) that conceal a disturbing secret. When Lenny realizes she has signed one of these NDAs herself, her investigation puts her directly in the crosshairs of Sharon (Nicole Kidman), the firm’s most powerful female partner. This discovery disrupts their mentor-protégé relationship and raises a compelling question: who truly holds the right to keep secrets, and what are the consequences of those secrets?
The series is planned as an eight-episode season, with production slated to begin next year. Alongside Baker, executive producers include Susannah Grant—known for her work on Unbelievable and Erin Brockovich—as well as Elle Fanning, Dakota Fanning, and Brittany Kahan Ward from Lewellen Pictures. Nicole Kidman and Per Saari are producing through Blossom Films, while Jordan Cerf and Joe Hipps are involved via A24’s Cut to company.
Interestingly, this project reunites Kidman, Fanning, and A24, who are also collaborating on the upcoming Apple TV+ series Margo’s Got Money Troubles. It’s a full-circle moment for Holland and Hipps as well; Hipps was an executive at MRC when it sold House of Cards to Netflix, a deal that famously launched Netflix’s original series era.
This development was first reported by Deadline, and it’s already sparking conversations about the future direction of Paramount+ and the evolving dynamics of streaming content acquisition.
So, what do you think? Is Paramount+ making the right move by betting big on star power and high-stakes legal drama? Or is this just another example of the streaming wars escalating beyond control? Share your thoughts below—do you believe Discretion will live up to the hype, or is it too soon to tell? The debate is just getting started.
