Netflix‘s Zero Day caught everyone’s eye when it was first announced. The Robert De Niro leading a political thriller? Count us in!
Zero Day is a political thriller following the former president in the days after a cyberattack strikes the United States, known as Zero Day, shutting down all communications and resulting in thousands of deaths. Tasked with leading the Zero Day Commission, former U.S. President George Mullen (De Niro) uncovers a web of lies and conspiracies that strikes closer to home than he expected, all while battling his own fraying grasp of reality.
The limited series is a total thrill ride at just six episodes, all of which are streaming now on Netflix.
But De Niro is not the only notable name on the call list.
He’s joined by a slate of big names, including Angela Bassett, Connie Britton and more. If you’re wondering where you may know some of these memorable faces from, look no further.
Scroll down to check out DECIDER’s definitive Zero Day cast guide.
The Academy Award-winning actor grounds this series as former U.S. President George Mullen, who left the White House on good terms with the country. That is, until he’s tasked with leading the Zero Day Commission, where he essentially has a target on his back as he tries — and fails — to find the suspects behind the attack.
Civil War actor Jesse Plemons stars as President Mullen’s right-hand-man and aide Roger Carlson, a power-hungry fixer who will do anything to help Mullen and advance his own political career.
De Niro told Netflix’s Tudum that he was “very happy” to reunite with his Killers of the Flower Moon co-star on the Netflix series.
Lizzy Caplan, best known for her memorable comedic performances in Mean Girls and Party Down, forays into drama as President Mullen’s politician daughter, Alexandra Mullen. Their already fraught relationship is placed under more pressure due to their differing politics, as the young congresswoman tries to establish her own career outside of her father’s shadow. But Zero Day reveals Alexandra will stop at nothing to advance her own career.
Connie Britton takes the helm in Zero Day when President Mullen’s wife, former First Lady Sheila Mullen, personally asks her character, Valerie Whitesell, to take over as his chief of staff. Valerie has a storied past with President Mullen and his wife after she served as his chief of staff in the White House. But these unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures, including hiring back a shark like Valerie.
Bassett is impeccably cast as current U.S. President Evelyn Mitchell, bringing her grounding regality to a character who has the whole country breathing down her back. It’s Mitchell who enlists Mullen back into politics to lead the Zero Day Commission, but Mullen knows full well it’s so that she can place the blame on him if they aren’t able to get to the bottom of things.
Stranger Things star Matthew Modine stars as Richard Dreyer, Speaker of the House. His character is confident and personable, but he has some secrets up his sleeve…
Joan Allen (Room, The Notebook) stars as former First Lady Sheila Mullen, who returns to her husband’s side after Zero Day to support him as he’s called to action. Sheila has a political career of her own as she’s being nominated for the federal bench but the stakes of her husband’s new post — and his fraying mental health — leaves her concerned for their future.
Dan Stevens stars as controversial political podcaster Evan Green, one of Mullen’s most vocal critics who manages to get under his skin. Stevens’ realistic performance as Green feels reminiscent of many podcasters of today’s political climate.