Brigitte Lacombe; Therese Picciallo; Getty Images
Netflix has ordered the limited series “Zero Day” starring Robert De Niro in his first regular television role, Variety learned exclusively.
Additionally, Lesli Linka Glatter has come aboard the series and will direct and executive produce all six episodes. Variety previously reported that the series was in development at Netflix in November. It comes from writers and executive producers Eric Newman and Noah Oppenheim.
According to the official logline, “Zero Day” “begs the question in everyone’s mind – how do we find the truth in a world in crisis, a world seemingly torn apart by forces beyond our control? And in a time plagued to conspiracy theory and subterfuge, how much of these forces are the product of our own action, perhaps even our own imagination?
Newman and Oppenheim created the series with Pulitzer Prize winner Michael S. Schmidt, with Newman and Oppenheim serving as writers and executive producers. Newman executive produced through Grand Electric Productions. Schmidt also serves as an executive producer, with De Niro executive producing in addition to starring. Along with Glatter, Jonathan Glickman is also an executive producer. Newman and his production company Grand Electric are currently under an overall deal with Netflix.
“I’ve been a lifelong Robert De Niro fan,” Newman said. “Having her as a producing partner and star of this show is beyond my wildest dreams. And Lesli Linka Glatter has directed so many of my favorite episodes of television; she was clearly our first choice to direct this show. I am grateful to Netflix for his continued faith and support and thrilled to be in business with the incredible creative team of Noah, Lesli and Jonathan on this timely (and terrifying) series.
Noah Oppenheim credited Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Michael S. Schmidt and “the stories that kept him awake at night” for the early inspiration, adding, “Seeing this tear-out-of-reality thriller come to life, starring the legendary Robert De Niro, is more than we could have hoped for.
De Niro is one of the most well-known movie stars of all time, having won Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor Oscars for ‘Raging Bull’ and ‘The Godfather Part II’ respectively. He was nominated for seven acting Oscars in total, while he also shared the best nomination for ‘The Irishman’, which he produced and also starred in. He also received several Emmy Award nominations during his career, including one for Best Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series for the HBO film “Wizard of Lies,” in which he played Bernie Madoff.
“‘Zero Day’ is a clever and heart-pounding conspiratorial thriller that will keep audiences hooked,” said Peter Friedlander, vice president of scripted series for Netflix in the US and Canada. “What an honor to have brought together this caliber of top talent, led by the iconic Robert De Niro and powered by the unrivaled talents of Eric Newman, Noah Oppenheim, Lesli Linka Glatter and Michael S. Schmidt.”
Glatter is an eight-time Emmy nominee, which includes multiple nominations for directing the hit Showtime series “Homeland” as well as one for her work on “Mad Men.” She also directed episodes of shows like “Twin Peaks”, “Grey’s Anatomy”, “The Good Wife”, “True Blood”, “The Walking Dead”, and many more. It is replaced by CAA, Anonymous Content and Lichter Grossman.
(In the photo, from left to right: Robert De Niro, Lesli Linka Glatter, Eric Newman, Noah Oppenheim)