Robert De Niro's Netflix Series 'Zero Day': An Enduring Challenge for an Iconic Actor

In Netflix's "Zero Day," Robert De Niro embarks on his first role in a television series, describing it as an arduous endeavor akin to swimming the English Channel without seeing land.

"It's like doing three features back-to-back," De Niro stated at a London preview event. "I was in most of it, so I had to stay on top of everything, including simply memorizing the lines. It felt like being in the English Channel, swimming from France to England, looking back and not seeing France, and looking forward and not seeing England. I had to keep going, or else I would sink."

The Oscar-winning actor portrays George Mullen, a former U.S. President tasked with leading the Zero Day Commission to investigate a devastating cyber attack. The crisis forces Mullen to confront his own secrets while navigating a treacherous landscape of disinformation and competing interests.

Series co-creator Eric Newman ("Narcos") developed the six- episode show with Noah Oppenheim, former president of NBC News, after discussions about society's relationship with truth. "You can watch two different news sources and come away with entirely different versions of the truth. That terrified me, and when something scares me, it usually inspires me," Newman explained.

De Niro was Newman's first choice for the role, considering his unparalleled authenticity, credibility, and gravitas. "When you're casting a President, a former President, someone who needs that level of authenticity, credibility, and gravitas, the list is very short, and Bob was at the top of it," Newman said.

For De Niro, the project aligned with his desire to work in New York for several months. "I told my agent I'd like to do something where I'm in New York for five or six months," De Niro shared. "We talked about a limited series. Eric sent me a few episodes every few weeks, enough for me to say, 'Yeah, I'm ready. I'll do it.'"

Jesse Plemons co-stars as a political aide with a complex connection to De Niro's character. "It was fascinating to meet two characters with a long, complicated history that gradually unfolds over the show," Plemons said.

Written three years ago, the series has gained unexpected relevance. "Things have happened since that we could not have possibly predicted," Newman acknowledged. Despite its dark themes, the show offers a message of hope. "My hope is that the takeaway is that there is hope for us, even in this world where every day seems increasingly hopeless," Newman stated.

Lesli Linka Glatter directed all six episodes of "Zero Day." Michael S. Schmidt and Jonathan Glickman join Newman, Oppenheim, and De Niro as executive producers. The star-studded cast includes Lizzy Caplan, Connie Britton, Joan Allen, Matthew Modine, and Angela Bassett.

"Zero Day" premieres globally on Netflix on February 20th.