Robert De Niro doesn't do TV. Or at least, he didn't. For decades, the guy was the ultimate big-screen holdout, the titan of cinema who stayed away from the "small screen" even as everyone from Meryl Streep to Nicole Kidman made the jump to streaming. But that changed with Zero Day, his massive Netflix political thriller that basically broke the internet when it dropped in early 2025.
Honestly, it’s a weird feeling seeing the guy from Taxi Driver and The Godfather Part II in a six-part miniseries format. You expect him to be on a 50-foot screen, not your iPad. But here we are.
What the Heck is Zero Day Actually About?
Basically, the show imagines a nightmare scenario. A massive cyberattack hits the United States—it’s called a "Zero Day" event—and it isn't just about people losing their Wi-Fi. We’re talking thousands of deaths, infrastructure collapsing, and total nationwide panic.
De Niro plays George Mullen. He’s a respected, retired U.S. President who is probably the only person the public still trusts. Think of him as the "Elder Statesman" archetype. When the current President, Evelyn Mitchell (played by the incredible Angela Bassett), needs someone to lead the investigation, she calls Mullen back to the front lines. He heads up the "Zero Day Commission," which is basically a group of high-powered fixers and experts trying to find out who pulled the trigger on the digital strike.
Is it Russia? China? A rogue tech billionaire?
That’s the hook. But the show isn't just a "whodunnit." It’s a "who can you trust" story. Mullen is constantly battling disinformation, and the deeper he digs, the more he realizes that the "truth" is a moving target. Plus, he's dealing with some pretty heavy personal baggage, including a strained relationship with his daughter, Alexandra (Lizzy Caplan), who is a sitting Congresswoman and—get this—the one assigned to oversee her father’s commission. Talk about awkward family dinners.
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The Cast is Low-Key Insane
One reason this show got so much hype is that the cast list reads like an Oscar nominee luncheon. It’s not just De Niro and Bassett. You've got Jesse Plemons playing Roger Carlson, Mullen’s former aide and a total political "fixer" who knows where all the bodies are buried. Connie Britton shows up as Valerie Whitesell, Mullen’s old Chief of Staff.
Then there’s Dan Stevens, who plays a loudmouthed, conspiracy-theorist TV host named Evan Green. He’s basically the antagonist for Mullen in the court of public opinion.
- Robert De Niro: George Mullen (The Former Prez)
- Angela Bassett: President Evelyn Mitchell (The Boss)
- Jesse Plemons: Roger Carlson (The Fixer)
- Lizzy Caplan: Alexandra Mullen (The Daughter/Oversight)
- Joan Allen: Sheila Mullen (The Former First Lady)
- Matthew Modine: Richard Dreyer (Speaker of the House)
The chemistry between De Niro and Bassett is the highlight. They have these scenes where they’re just sitting in the Oval Office, two powerhouses trading barbs, and you can practically feel the air leave the room.
Why People Are Fighting Over It
Now, if you look at the reviews, people are kinda split. Some critics loved the "prestige" feel of it. It’s directed by Lesli Linka Glatter, who did a ton of work on Homeland, so it has that fast-paced, high-stakes energy.
But other people? They found it a bit too "self-serious." There’s a lot of dialogue about the "death of truth" and the "fragility of democracy." If you’re in the mood for a lighthearted binge, this ain't it. It’s dense. It’s dark. And it asks some really uncomfortable questions about how much power we should give the government during a crisis.
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One of the big "is he or isn't he" subplots involves Mullen’s mental health. There are hints throughout the series—mysterious music he hears, erratic notes in his journals—that suggest the man leading the country's most important investigation might be losing his grip on reality.
The Weirdest Fact: Why De Niro Finally Said Yes
You’d think it took a mountain of money to get De Niro on Netflix. And yeah, the budget was probably astronomical. But the real reason? He wanted to work in New York.
In interviews, De Niro has been pretty open about the fact that he was looking for a project that would let him stay close to home. He’s a New Yorker through and through. When Eric Newman (the guy behind Narcos) and Noah Oppenheim (who wrote Jackie) pitched him this political thriller set right in his backyard, it was an easy sell.
He didn't just act in it, either. He was a hands-on executive producer. Newman said in a press release that De Niro was "very involved, read everything at every stage." This wasn't a "show up and say the lines" gig for him. He actually cared about the story.
What Most People Get Wrong About Zero Day
There’s a common misconception that this is a "cybersecurity show." Like, you’re going to see a bunch of guys in hoodies typing code on green-and-black screens.
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Nope.
It’s a political conspiracy thriller. The cyberattack is just the catalyst. The real story is about how power brokers in Washington, Wall Street, and Silicon Valley use a crisis to settle old scores. It’s more about the "Deep State" and backroom deals than it is about firewalls and IP addresses.
Also, don't go in expecting a Season 2. It’s billed as a limited series. While Netflix loves a sequel, this story has a very definitive, very explosive ending that doesn't leave much room for a "What happens next?"
Key Takeaways for Your Next Binge
If you haven't started Zero Day yet, keep these things in mind:
- Pay attention to the daughter. Lizzy Caplan’s character, Alexandra, is arguably the most important person in the show. Her dynamic with her father is what grounds all the high-level political drama in something human.
- Watch the background. The show does a great job of showing how the public is reacting to the crisis through news tickers and social media feeds. It adds a layer of realism that's pretty terrifying.
- Don't trust the "evidence." Half the fun of the show is that even the investigators don't know if the intel they're getting is real or just more disinformation.
Basically, if you like House of Cards or Succession but wish they were a little more "end of the world," you’re going to dig this. Just don't expect a happy ending. This is 2026, and in the world of George Mullen, the truth usually comes with a pretty high price tag.
To get the most out of the experience, watch the episodes back-to-back to keep the complex web of names and agencies fresh in your mind. If you're looking for more political thrillers after finishing, checking out the creators' previous work like Narcos or The Diplomat is a solid way to fill the void.