Zero Day (2025) – Season 1
Director: Lesli Linka Glatter
Cast: Robert De Niro, Lizzy Caplan, Jesse Plemons, Joan Allen, Connie Britton, Bill Camp, Dan Stevens, Matthew Modine, Angela Bassett, McKinley Belcher III
“Zero Day” is a six‑episode American political thriller miniseries (totaling roughly 300 minutes) directed by Lesli Linka Glatter. Released on February 20, 2025, it follows former U.S. President George Mullen (Robert De Niro), who is called out of retirement by current President Evelyn Mitchell (Angela Bassett) to head a government‑authorized commission investigating a catastrophic cyberterrorist attack that kills thousands and paralyzes critical infrastructure.
As head of the Zero Day Commission, Mullen navigates a labyrinth of political conspiracies, misinformation, and mounting public panic. Lizzy Caplan plays Alexandra Mullen, his estranged daughter and Congressional overseer, whose professional duty tests familial bonds. Jesse Plemons portrays Roger Carlson, Mullen’s aide, whose loyalty and moral compass face severe strain. The ensemble includes Joan Allen as Sheila Mullen, Connie Britton as chief‑of‑staff Valerie Whitesell, Dan Stevens as inflammatory pundit Evan Green, Bill Camp as CIA Director Jeremy Lasch, Matthew Modine as Speaker Richard Dreyer, and McKinley Belcher III as investigative lead Carl Otieno.
The plot weaves themes of truth, power, generational conflict, and media distortion. The pacing builds steadily across episodes—with escalating stakes, intense personal drama, and moral ambiguity. Direction by Glatter is taut and polished, lending cinematic gravitas to a small‑screen format; storylines are ambitious though occasionally dense. Performances are uniformly strong—De Niro anchors with gravitas tempered by vulnerability, while Plemons and Caplan bring emotional texture and tension. Production values are high throughout, with crisp cinematography, realistic cyber‑attack set pieces, and a brooding, atmospheric score.
Although critical response was mixed (Rotten Tomatoes rating 53%), the series stands out for its topical relevance and ensemble. It examines how a democracy grapples with unseen digital threats and internal division, all through the lens of a crisis that feels eerily of our time. “Zero Day” emerges as a thoughtful, character‑driven thriller that probes public trust, personal sacrifice, and the cost of power in a destabilized world
“Zero Day” is a six‑episode American political thriller miniseries (totaling roughly 300 minutes) directed by Lesli Linka Glatter. Released on February 20, 2025, it follows former U.S. President George Mullen (Robert De Niro), who is called out of retirement by current President Evelyn Mitchell (Angela Bassett) to head a government‑authorized commission investigating a catastrophic cyberterrorist attack that kills thousands and paralyzes critical infrastructure.
As head of the Zero Day Commission, Mullen navigates a labyrinth of political conspiracies, misinformation, and mounting public panic. Lizzy Caplan plays Alexandra Mullen, his estranged daughter and Congressional overseer, whose professional duty tests familial bonds. Jesse Plemons portrays Roger Carlson, Mullen’s aide, whose loyalty and moral compass face severe strain. The ensemble includes Joan Allen as Sheila Mullen, Connie Britton as chief‑of‑staff Valerie Whitesell, Dan Stevens as inflammatory pundit Evan Green, Bill Camp as CIA Director Jeremy Lasch, Matthew Modine as Speaker Richard Dreyer, and McKinley Belcher III as investigative lead Carl Otieno.
The plot weaves themes of truth, power, generational conflict, and media distortion. The pacing builds steadily across episodes—with escalating stakes, intense personal drama, and moral ambiguity. Direction by Glatter is taut and polished, lending cinematic gravitas to a small‑screen format; storylines are ambitious though occasionally dense. Performances are uniformly strong—De Niro anchors with gravitas tempered by vulnerability, while Plemons and Caplan bring emotional texture and tension. Production values are high throughout, with crisp cinematography, realistic cyber‑attack set pieces, and a brooding, atmospheric score.
Although critical response was mixed (Rotten Tomatoes rating 53%), the series stands out for its topical relevance and ensemble. It examines how a democracy grapples with unseen digital threats and internal division, all through the lens of a crisis that feels eerily of our time. “Zero Day” emerges as a thoughtful, character‑driven thriller that probes public trust, personal sacrifice, and the cost of power in a destabilized world