Interview: Zero Day Creators Talk Eerie Airplane Crashes & Netflix Show’s Timeliness

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The creators of Zero Day, Noah Oppenheim and Eric Newman, in collaboration with Michael Schmidt, recently shared insights about their new Netflix miniseries with Tyler Treese from ComingSoon. They talked about securing Robert De Niro for a TV project, Oppenheim’s experience in journalism, and the uncanny relevance of the show’s airplane accidents. The six-episode series is now available on Netflix for streaming.

As a gamer, I’m intrigued by the premise of Zero Day, which poses a question that feels eerily relevant: in a world spiraling into chaos, beyond our grasp and seemingly manipulated by forces unknown, how can we discern truth from fiction? In this era where conspiracy theories abound and deception thrives, just how much of the chaos is shaped by our actions, or perhaps even born from our collective imagination?

Tyler Treese: Noah, given your experience in news, it was fascinating to see all the news coverage on the show, especially with Wolf Blitzer appearing. The way it was portrayed felt incredibly authentic. How did you incorporate your own background into the show’s production? It seems like a perfect fit.

As a gamer, I’ve always been dedicated to crafting a game world that feels as genuine and authentic as possible. You see, Eric, who’s known for creating some of the most impactful TV series over the past two decades, has this knack for starting with non-fiction narratives from day one. He was constantly challenging us to imagine how these events would unfold in real life, focusing on the conversations that genuinely take place in these settings.

Luckily, my journalistic background and our co-creator Mike Schmidt’s experience as a New York Times reporter gave us a vast network of experts to consult. This helped us ensure that the story we’re telling is unfolding in a way that mirrors reality as closely as possible.

Eric, who’s usually known for big-screen roles like Robert De Niro, is not commonly associated with TV shows. However, the landscape has shifted recently. Nowadays, stars such as Harrison Ford, Robert Downey Jr., and others at their peak are taking on miniseries because they resemble five-hour epic films. The quality of these productions is astounding. Was there any reservation from him regarding this, or how did you manage to convince him to join?

In late 2021, Eric Newman had a discussion with Noah concerning the relationship between our nation and potentially civilization, as he felt it transcended national borders, primarily focusing on truth. Shortly after this chat, by an odd twist of fate, he crossed paths with Bob. Sharing the details of their conversation and a project idea born from it, Eric found that Bob was immediately interested.

As a devoted fan, I believe that actors have come to understand the advantages of the extended format offered by streaming platforms, such as five, six, or even ten hours. This length allows characters to be explored in depth, taking them to places that would be impossible within a two-hour film. Given an actor’s natural attraction to complex characters, it was only a matter of time before this approach became popular. In our case, Noah and I were able to weave a compelling narrative across six hours, crafting a journey for this character that proved, in my opinion, impossible to resist for Bob. Once he had committed, he never wavered.

Noah, it seems that Netflix’s Zero Day is arriving at an especially relevant time. With heightened political tension and recent reports of airplane malfunctions, such as the depiction in the series where planes collide following a cyber attack, do you think this will resonate with viewers?

Oppenheim: We didn’t foresee the specific circumstances under which our series would debut. We began working on it over four years ago. It turns out that the show will echo in multiple intriguing ways now, and this isn’t a coincidence. Our dedication to exploring enduring themes played a significant role in this resonance.

Eric spoke about the connection between truth, the broken media system, and the influence of money and technology on democracy. He discussed how far influential individuals might go when they believe they’re serving a just cause, as well as the freedoms ordinary people may relinquish due to fear. These topics are intriguing, and it’s captivating to consider their global interpretation in today’s world. I believe this is an opportune moment for the show to make its debut.

Newman: I hadn’t even thought of the airplane thing. I mean…

Oppenheim: I’m not sure if there’s a digital aspect to these specific events, but it’s always possible. After all, one can never be too certain.

Newman: Yeah, God…

Thanks to Eric Newman and Noah Oppenheim for taking the time to talk about Netflix’s Zero Day.

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2025-02-21 23:10