Eric Schultz, a political consultant who worked on Zero Day, discusses whether the attack in the show could happen in real life. The Netflix series begins with a devastating cyberattack on U.S. transportation that results in the deaths of over 3,000 people. Zero Day’s main character, former U.S. President George Mullen (Robert De Niro), is given the responsibility of figuring out who was behind the cyberattack and to prevent the perpetrators from delivering on their promise that they will strike again.
During an interview with Variety, Schultz was asked how real the show’s premise is and whether a similar attack could actually occur. He confirms that the attack seen in Zero Day could happen in real life and that it is the type of threat that greatly concerns anyone involved with national security. Schultz also mentions how important it is to have government officials who have expertise and integrity, which is another key element of Zero Day‘s story. Check out Schultz’s comments below:
If you talk to any expert when it comes to national security, cyber threats are the top of the list of things that keep them up at night. I think the constantly evolving threats against our technology, and especially cyber warfare, remain acute challenges. In that regard, the story is on point. I also think making sure that people in power have expertise and integrity is also, unfortunately, a question we’re all grappling with at the moment. I think the story, which was written years ago, was prescient.
What This Means For Zero Day
The Cyberattack Is Frighteningly Plausible
While Zero Day‘s reviews are largely negative, this does not mean that the show is without its strengths. Schultz’s comments underscore how one of the show’s greatest strengths is the terrifying and accurate way it depicts a deadly cyberattack. Part of what makes the devastation so chilling to watch is that it is not a far-fetched idea and is capable of happening in the modern world. It is a viable threat that can happen without any warning, which makes it all the more anxiety-inducing.
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Schultz’s remarks about the importance of having knowledgeable and honorable individuals in power are also at the heart of Zero Day‘s story. The attack happens quickly in the first episode, and most of the series ends up focusing on Mullen and other political figures pursuing or covering up the truth. Characters on both sides of the political spectrum abuse their power at various points, with the series exploring the consequences of power being misused, and that doing so in the name of the greater good is never justifiable.
The Realism Of The Cyberattack Could Have Been Better Explored
After hearing about the realism behind the cyberattack, it makes me wish that the series focused more on this. Instead, it ended up feeling like a mere catalyst as the focus shifted to elements like Mullen’s hallucinations, the NSA weapon Proteus, and the convoluted truth of who was behind the attack in the first place. Zero Day could have dug deeper into the concept of cyber threats instead of feeling like a political thriller that plays it too safe.
Source: Variety
Zero Day
5/10
- Release Date
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2025 – 2024
- Network
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Netflix
- Writers
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Dee Johnson