Netflix has ordered a limited series, Zero Day, featuring seven-time Oscar nominee and two-time Oscar winner Robert De Niro (Raging Bull, Taxi Driver), according to Deadline. De Niro will star as the lead and will also executive produce, which will mark his first time in a regular television role.
The premise of the thriller poses a series of questions, via Deadline – “how do we find truth in a world in crisis, one seemingly being torn apart by forces outside our control? And in an era rife with conspiracy theory and subterfuge, how much of those forces are products of our own doing, perhaps even of our own imagining?”
The six-episode series is written and executive produced by Eric Newman, known for The Watcher, Narcos, and Hemlock Grove; Noah Oppenheim (Jackie, The Maze Runner), the president of NBC News; and Michael S. Schmidt, a journalist and author who won two Pulitzers for reporting on workplace sexual harassment issues and former President Donald Trump’s campaign ties to Russia (according to The New York Times). Oscar nominee Leslie Linka Glatter (Homeland, Pretty Little Liars) will direct all episodes and also executive produce, alongside Jonathan Glickman (Rush Hour, Wednesday).
Per Variety, Newman praised his co-workers: “I am a lifelong fan of Robert De Niro. To have him as a producing partner and star in this show is beyond my wildest dreams. And Lesli Linka Glatter has directed so many of my favorite episodes of television; she was our clear first choice to direct this show. I am grateful to Netflix for their continued faith and support and thrilled to be in business with the amazing creative team of Noah, Lesli, and Jonathan on this timely (and terrifying) series.”
Additionally, Oppenheim credited Schmidt and “the stories that kept him up at night” for the idea of the series: “To see this ripped-from-reality thriller come to life, starring the legendary Robert De Niro, is more than we could have hoped.”
Vice President of Scripted Series for Netflix US and Canada, Peter Friedlander (Sense8, Daredevil), said, “‘Zero Day’ is a shrewd, heart-pounding conspiracy thriller that will keep audiences at the edge of their seat. What an honor to have this A-list caliber of talent assembled, led by the iconic Robert De Niro and brought to life by the unrivaled talents of Eric Newman, Noah Oppenheim, Lesli Linka Glatter and Michael S. Schmidt.”
Though Zero Day has reportedly been in production since November 2022, little information regarding the project has been revealed.