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De Niro to take first TV leading role in Netflix thriller Zero Day from Grand Electric

Netflix has ordered a conspiracy thriller starring Robert De Niro, marking the iconic actor’s first leading role on television.

Robert De Niro (photo: Brigitte Lacombe)

Six-part limited series Zero Day is co-created and executive produced by Eric Newman, Noah Oppenheim and Michael S Schmidt, with De Niro exec producing.

Newman, who was the showrunner on Narcos, is producing the project through his Grand Electric Productions banner (The Watcher, Narcos, Narcos: Mexico), which has overall deals with Netflix in both TV and film.

For Oppenheim, whose credits include Jackie, The Thing About Pam and The Maze Runner, the announcement comes six weeks after it was confirmed he had left his role as president of NBC News. Schmidt is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist.

Lesli Linka Glatter (Homeland, Mad Men and Love & Death) will direct all six episodes. Jonathan Glickman (Wednesday, Respect) will also serve as an exec producer.

Zero Day “asks the question on everyone’s mind: how do we find truth in a world in crisis, one seemingly being torn apart by forces outside our control?”, according to the logline.

“I am a lifelong fan of Robert De Niro. To have him as a producing partner and star in this show is beyond my wildest dreams,” said Newman.

“And Lesli Linka Glatter has directed so many of my favourite episodes of television; she was our clear first choice to direct this show. I am grateful to Netflix for their continued faith and support and thrilled to be in business with the amazing creative team of Noah, Lesli and Jonathan on this timely (and terrifying) series.”

Elsewhere, Netflix ordered a Kristen Bell-led comedy series from Disney-owned 20th Television. The as-yet-untitled project was created by Erin Foster and explores the unlikely relationship between an irreverent, outspoken, agnostic woman and an unconventional rabbi.

20th Television is producing the comedy in association with Steven Levitan Productions. Executive producers include Foster, Steven Levitan, Craig DiGregorio, Bell, Sara Foster and Danielle Stokdyk, in addition to 3 Arts’ Oly Obst and Josh Lieberman.

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