Academy Award-winner Robert De Niro has opened up about his challenges while filming Netflix’s Zero Day. According to Variety, De Niro described the experience of working on Zero Day as akin to “doing three features back to back.” He shared that he was heavily involved in the project, stating, “I was in most of it. And so I had to keep up with everything, even as simple as knowing the lines.” This overwhelming experience led him to liken his situation to swimming in the English Channel, where he felt he was “looking behind me and not seeing France, looking ahead, not seeing England. I gotta keep going, otherwise I’m gonna sink.”
Zero Day is a political thriller where De Niro plays former United States President George Mullen. The series follows Mullen as he leads the Zero Day Commission, investigating a catastrophic cyber-attack that results in chaos and numerous fatalities across the nation. De Niro’s candid remarks highlight the mental and physical toll that the demanding role has taken on him, emphasizing the pressure he faced while striving to deliver an authentic performance.
Directed by Lesli Linka Glatter and co-created by Noah Oppenheim, Michael Schmidt, and showrunner Eric Newman, Zero Day boasts a strong cast that includes Lizzy Caplan as Alexandra Mullen, Joan Allen as Sheila Mullen, Jesse Plemons as Roger Carlson, and even Angela Bassett as President Evelyn Mitchell. Newman highlighted why De Niro was the right choice for the role, noting, “If you have someone playing the president, a former president, someone who needed a level of authenticity and credibility and gravitas – it’s a very short list, and Bob was at the top of it.”
The official synopsis of Zero Day sets the stage for a nation in crisis, questioning, “how can we discover the truth when it seems that the world is being destroyed by uncontrollable forces? Also, to what extent are conspiracy theories our own inventions or products of our imagination?” These themes resonate deeply in a world often fraught with uncertainty and fear.
The excitement for Zero Day continues to build as the official trailer premiered on January 22, providing viewers with a glimpse into the gripping narrative that unfolds. The trailer captures the grim aftermath of the series’ central event, showcasing how Bassett’s President Mitchell appoints De Niro’s President Mullen to the Zero Day Commission. While the Commission is empowered to investigate individuals linked to the attack without warrants, this blatant disregard for civil liberties quickly sways public opinion against Mullen and his efforts.
As Zero Day prepares to premiere on Netflix on February 20, the stakes are undeniably high for Robert De Niro, both as an actor and as a key character in the unfolding drama. His struggles during filming reflect not only his dedication to the role but also the broader implications of storytelling in a society grappling with threats both real and imagined. The anticipation surrounding the series suggests that viewers are eager to dive into its twists and turns, eagerly awaiting the impact it may have on discussions about leadership, accountability, and the search for truth in turbulent times.
