Stephan James and Colton Ryan Join Nicole Kidman Legal Thriller 'Discretion' as Production Begins

Paramount+ has added Stephan James and Colton Ryan as series regulars to its legal drama Discretion, with production now underway. The eight-episode series stars Nicole Kidman, Elle Fanning and Josh Lucas, and comes from writer Chandler Baker and studio A24 (Deadline).

Discretion is a legal thriller built around Lenny, a summer associate at a Dallas law firm played by Elle Fanning. Lenny uncovers a web of non-disclosure agreements hiding a dark truth at the firm. The series is based on Baker's short story of the same name and was given a straight-to-series order, meaning no pilot episode was shot first — Paramount+ committed to a full eight-episode season (Variety; Deadline).

James plays Logan, a sharp corporate associate who becomes a mentor to Lenny. Ryan takes on Boone, Lenny's ex-boyfriend — a recovering addict from an affluent Dallas family, nine months sober and living at a halfway house. Both actors are repped by the Gersh Agency (Deadline).

Chandler Baker wrote and executive produces the series. Susannah Grant also serves as executive producer. Matt Shakman, whose credits include WandaVision and The Great, executive produces and will direct the first four episodes.

The executive producer roster is long. Nicole Kidman and Per Saari produce through Blossom Films. Elle Fanning, Dakota Fanning and Brittany Kahan Ward produce through Lewellen Pictures. Joe Hipp produces via CUT TO, Jordan Cerf through Linden Entertainment, and A24 rounds out the list.

James is coming off a strong stretch. He starred in Barry Jenkins's If Beale Street Could Talk and led the Prime Video thriller series Homecoming. His next role is portraying Carl Weathers in I Play Rocky, which premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival. He is also repped by Range Media Partners, HillTop Entertainment and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.

Ryan previously starred opposite Elle Fanning in the Hulu miniseries The Girl From Plainville, which makes Discretion their second on-screen pairing. He is additionally represented by TFC Management.

For the people watching, Discretion lines up a proven format: a closed-room workplace thriller anchored by a cast of established film and streaming names, backed by A24 and a deep bench of production companies. The eight-episode order means a full season is in motion, not a pilot waiting on a verdict.