ZeroZeroZero
ZeroZeroZero is an Italian crime drama miniseries created by Stefano Sollima, Leonardo Fasoli, and Ludovica Rampoldi, loosely adapted from Roberto Saviano's 2013 nonfiction book of the same name investigating the global cocaine trade.[1][2] The eight-episode series, co-produced by Sky, Cattleya, and Amazon Studios, follows the perilous journey of a massive cocaine shipment from a Mexican cartel in Monterrey to the 'Ndrangheta syndicate in Calabria, Italy, amid betrayals, violence, and logistical intrigue involving an American shipping family and corrupt military elements.[3][1] It premiered on Sky Atlantic in Italy on 22 February 2020 and became available internationally on Amazon Prime Video starting 6 March 2020.[2][1] Starring Andrea Riseborough as the steely head of the Lynwood shipping company, Dane DeHaan as her cocaine-addicted brother, and Gabriel Byrne as a vengeful Sicilian boss, the series emphasizes gritty action sequences, moral ambiguity, and the economic undercurrents of narco-trafficking rather than a linear plot.[1][2] Its production spanned authentic locations in Mexico, Italy, the U.S., and Morocco to capture the transnational scope of the drug trade.[3] Critically acclaimed for its tense pacing and visual style—earning a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 34 reviews—the series has been praised as an addictive thriller but critiqued for occasional narrative withholding and nihilism in depicting cartel brutality.[2] With an IMDb user rating of 8.1/10 from over 32,000 votes, it stands as a notable entry in the genre pioneered by creators like Sollima, known for Gomorrah.[1][4]Overview
Premise and Plot Summary
ZeroZeroZero dramatizes the international cocaine trade through the lens of a single high-stakes shipment originating in Mexico and destined for Italy, highlighting the interconnected networks of suppliers, transporters, and buyers across continents. Adapted from Roberto Saviano's 2013 investigative book of the same name, which examines the economics and logistics of cocaine distribution from production in South America to consumption in Europe, the series portrays the drug as a commodity driving ruthless power struggles among criminal organizations.[1][3] The plot centers on a massive cocaine consignment hidden in jalapeño tins aboard a freighter, purchased by the powerful Italian 'Ndrangheta clan led by Don Minu La Piana, a traditionalist boss navigating internal betrayals and external threats. Complications arise in Mexico when a military coup disrupts the deal, pitting the shipment's handlers against corrupt generals and cartel enforcers vying for control. Mediating the transaction is the Lynwood family, operators of a New Orleans-based shipping company run by patriarch Edward Lynwood, with siblings Emma and Chris Lynwood thrust into the fray to salvage the operation amid escalating violence and double-crosses.[5][6][1] Across its eight episodes, the narrative unfolds nonlinearly, intercutting perspectives from Calabria, Mexico, and the United States to illustrate how a disrupted deal cascades into familial disintegrations, military purges, and mafia wars, underscoring the cocaine market's resilience despite individual failures. The shipment's odyssey exposes the brutal efficiencies of global trafficking, from cartel production sites to transatlantic voyages, without resolving into simplistic moral judgments.[2][7][8]Themes and Stylistic Elements
The series ZeroZeroZero examines the global cocaine trade as an interconnected economic system, tracing a single shipment from Mexican cartels through intermediaries to Italian organized crime groups like the 'Ndrangheta, emphasizing how disruptions in one link ripple across continents.[9] [10] Central themes include the rational, business-oriented mindset of traffickers, who treat narcotics as commodities driven by supply-chain logistics rather than passion or ideology, mirroring legitimate global commerce.[11] Betrayal emerges as a recurring motif, with characters engaging in constant machinations against allies, underscoring the fragility of trust in high-stakes criminal enterprises where neither familial bonds nor financial incentives guarantee loyalty.[11] [12] The narrative also explores generational rivalries and the overlap between family obligations and commercial imperatives, portraying how personal loyalties erode under the pressure of power struggles and economic imperatives.[12] Stylistically, the production adopts a sprawling, multi-continental scope, interweaving parallel storylines from Mexico, Italy, and the United States that converge on the cocaine shipment, creating a procedural-like structure elevated by epic scale. [10] Directors such as Stefano Sollima employ bravura filmmaking techniques, including extended wide-angle shots of rugged landscapes—from Calabrian hills to Mexican horizons—that contrast natural beauty with underlying brutality, enhancing atmospheric immersion.[5] [13] The tone maintains a grim realism and nihilistic edge, avoiding glamorization of violence through authentic depictions of cartel operations and mafia rituals, reminiscent of films like Sicario, bolstered by a multinational cast delivering grounded performances.[7] [10] High production values, including meticulous choreography of action sequences and a pulsating score that builds tension across episodes, contribute to its cinematic feel, though the familiarity of genre tropes tempers innovation.[5] [14]Cast and Characters
Main Characters and Casting
The main characters in ZeroZeroZero encompass protagonists from the American Lynwood shipping family, the Italian La Piana 'Ndrangheta clan, and the Mexican drug cartel operatives, reflecting the transnational scope of the cocaine trade depicted in the series.[15][1]| Actor | Character | Role Description |
|---|---|---|
| Andrea Riseborough | Emma Lynwood | Eldest daughter and CEO of the family shipping company, brokers narcotics shipments alongside her brother.[15][1] |
| Dane DeHaan | Chris Lynwood | Emma's younger brother, involved in managing the shipping operations tainted by drug smuggling.[15][1] |
| Gabriel Byrne | Edward Lynwood | Father of Emma and Chris, the established U.S. shipping mogul overseeing the legitimate facade of the business.[15][1] |
| Adriano Chiaramida | Don Damiano "Minu" La Piana | Elderly 'Ndrangheta boss adhering to traditional codes while navigating internal family power struggles.[6][1] |
| Giuseppe De Domenico | Stefano La Piana | Ambitious grandson of Don Minu, a mafia enforcer aiming to assert his influence within the clan.[15][1] |
| Harold Torres | Manuel Contreras | Cartel lieutenant in Mexico, handling procurement and distribution amid betrayals and violence.[1][16] |
Recurring and Supporting Roles
The recurring and supporting roles in ZeroZeroZero encompass key figures from the Italian 'Ndrangheta, Mexican military-cartel alliances, and ancillary characters facilitating the global cocaine shipment. These portrayals highlight the interconnected criminal networks central to the narrative.[15] Adriano Chiaramida depicts Don Damiano "Minu" La Piana, the elderly head of the La Piana 'Ndrangheta family in Calabria, who orchestrates the purchase of a massive cocaine shipment to reclaim influence after a period of dormancy; he appears in all eight episodes.[15][18] Giuseppe De Domenico plays Stefano La Piana, Minu's grandson and an ambitious 'Ndrangheta operative whose internal family conflicts and strategic maneuvers drive much of the Italian storyline, also appearing in eight episodes.[15][1] Francesco Colella portrays Italo Curtiga, a trusted ally to the La Piana clan involved in their operational decisions.[15] On the Mexican front, Harold Torres embodies Manuel Contreras, a disciplined soldier under a corrupt military commander, tasked with securing the drug load amid cartel betrayals and appears across multiple episodes.[15][1] Noé Hernández assumes the role of Varas, the ruthless army commander collaborating with narcos to protect the shipment, exemplifying institutional corruption in the trade.[15] Additional Mexican supporting players include Diego Cataño as Chino, Jesús Lozano as Gordo, and Érick Israel Consuelo as Moko, fellow soldiers enforcing Varas's orders during violent enforcement actions.[15] Gabriel Byrne recurs as Edward Lynwood, the ailing patriarch of the American shipping family, whose decisions underpin the transport logistics from a distance.[15] Tchéky Karyo appears as François Salvage, a Lynwood-employed sailor navigating the high-seas delivery. Other notable supports include Nika Perrone as Lucia La Piana, Stefano's sister entangled in family dynamics, in eight episodes, and Víctor Huggo Martin with Flavio Medina as the narco brothers Enrique and Jacinto Leyra, handling production-side elements in Mexico.[15][19]Production
Development and Adaptation from Source Material
The television series ZeroZeroZero draws inspiration from Roberto Saviano's 2013 non-fiction book ZeroZeroZero, an investigative work chronicling the global cocaine trade's supply chain, from Colombian production through Mexican cartels and Italian mafias to European and American markets, highlighting the involvement of banks, politicians, and everyday consumers.[20][21] Saviano's text, grounded in interviews and data, portrays cocaine as a pervasive economic force shaping geopolitics and corruption, rather than a linear narrative.[22] Development originated in October 2014 at MIPCOM, where Saviano partnered with Gomorrah writers Stefano Bises, Leonardo Fasoli, and Ludovica Rampoldi to create an English-language series for Canal+, aiming to dramatize the book's themes of narco-economics and violence.[23] The project evolved under creators Stefano Sollima, Leonardo Fasoli, and Mauricio Katz, expanding into a co-production by Cattleya, Bartlebyfilm, Sky Italia, Amazon Studios, and Canal+, with Sollima directing the first four episodes.[24] This shift marked a departure from Saviano's direct creative control, as the team—experienced in Italian crime dramas like Gomorrah—prioritized a multi-continental scope to reflect the book's transnational focus while crafting fictional arcs.[25] The adaptation fictionalizes Saviano's essayistic content into an eight-episode thriller centered on a 3-ton cocaine shipment hijacked en route from Mexico to Europe, linking a Sinaloa cartel power struggle, a Calabrian 'Ndrangheta clan coup, and a U.S.-based shipping broker's moral descent.[8] Unlike the book's broad, non-narrative analysis and explicit call for drug legalization to undermine cartels, the series eschews policy advocacy, emphasizing visceral depictions of betrayal, family loyalty, and institutional complicity without endorsing reform.[26] This approach, as articulated by Sollima, uses the cocaine trade's "universal" mechanics as a framework for original storytelling, amplifying dramatic tension through parallel timelines and authentic cultural details sourced from Saviano's research.[25]Pre-Production and Writing
The development of ZeroZeroZero began in October 2014, when producers Cattleya announced an English-language adaptation of Roberto Saviano's 2013 nonfiction book of the same name, reuniting key creative talent from the Italian series Gomorrah, including writers Stefano Bises and Leonardo Fasoli, as well as Saviano himself and director Stefano Sollima.[23] The project, co-produced by Cattleya (an ITV Studios subsidiary) for Sky Studios, Canal+, and Amazon Prime Video, aimed to dramatize the global cocaine trade as depicted in Saviano's investigative work, which traces the drug's economic and social impacts across continents.[25] The core creative team, comprising showrunners Stefano Sollima, Leonardo Fasoli, and Mauricio Katz, restructured the narrative to center on the perilous voyage of a single high-purity cocaine shipment—from Mexican cartels to Italian 'Ndrangheta syndicates, with stops in Senegal and Morocco—employing a non-linear, multi-perspective format to emphasize the commodity's journey over individual exposés.[25] This adaptation drew inspiration from a specific seven-page monologue in Saviano's book detailing cocaine's worldwide ripple effects, transforming the nonfiction analysis into an original fictional thriller to avoid retreading familiar cartel tropes while maintaining factual grounding in the drug's supply chain dynamics.[27] Saviano contributed to early conceptualization but the series diverged into scripted drama, with Sollima coordinating as an "Italian-style showrunner" to integrate multinational viewpoints.[25] Pre-production spanned approximately three years of global research and planning, involving location scouting across multiple continents to authenticate the story's scope, which unfolds in six languages and required meticulous logistical coordination for authenticity in depicting interconnected criminal economies.[27] The writing process involved Fasoli, Katz, and Sollima collaboratively scripting all eight episodes, focusing on thematic purity—reflected in the title's reference to uncut cocaine's quality grading—to underscore the drug as a neutral, high-stakes commodity driving human conflict.[25][27] This phase emphasized causal chains of supply and demand over moralizing, with the overall project timeline exceeding five years from inception to completion, delayed initially by script refinements to ensure narrative cohesion amid the book's diffuse structure.[27]Filming Locations and Challenges
The production of ZeroZeroZero was filmed across five countries spanning three continents, reflecting the series' narrative of a global cocaine shipment originating in Monterrey, Mexico, and destined for the port of Gioia Tauro in Calabria, Italy. Principal locations included Monterrey and other parts of Mexico for cartel-related sequences; Calabria, Italy, particularly around Gioia Tauro, to portray the 'Ndrangheta syndicate's operations; Casablanca, Morocco, standing in for various North African and transit scenes; Senegal for additional coastal and smuggling depictions; and New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States, for American brokerage elements involving the Lynwood family.[28][29][30] The shoot encompassed 148 days of principal photography, demanding extensive logistical coordination for authenticity in diverse environments ranging from arid Mexican landscapes to Mediterranean ports and urban Moroccan settings.[28] Filming faced significant disruptions, including an on-set injury to actress Andrea Riseborough in Morocco, which halted production temporarily and contributed to broader delays. Political tensions in Mexico further complicated shoots there, with local unrest and security concerns forcing schedule adjustments and reshoots. Showrunner Stefano Sollima described Mexico as the most challenging location, citing a tense encounter with local police who interrogated the crew amid heightened cartel violence in the region, underscoring the real-world risks of depicting narco-trafficking.[29][27] These issues, compounded by the need for on-location authenticity in volatile areas, pushed the series' premiere from late 2019 to February 2020.[29] The international scope also strained visual effects planning, requiring supervisors to oversee integration across global sites for seamless post-production, such as shipboard sequences and action set pieces filmed on cargo vessels and in remote ports. Crews employed on-set data management and color grading to maintain consistency amid varying lighting and environmental conditions, though these technical hurdles were secondary to the safety and political obstacles.[31][32] Despite these adversities, the commitment to location shooting enhanced the series' gritty realism, avoiding heavy reliance on green-screen alternatives.[27]Post-Production and Technical Aspects
The post-production phase of ZeroZeroZero involved integrating footage from shoots across multiple continents, with a focus on visual effects, editing, sound design, and color grading to achieve a cohesive, high-tension narrative. Visual effects supervisor Stefano Leoni, working with EDI Effetti Digitali Italiani, delivered approximately 1,200 VFX shots over 1.5 years, emphasizing photorealistic integration to support practical stunts and location challenges.[31] Key VFX techniques included set extensions via matte paintings, CGI replication of cargo ship containers for consistency across day-for-night sequences, digital doubles, crowd multiplication, and cleanup for environments like harbors and mountains. Specific sequences featured slow-motion "device shots" of bullets and water spray, a rebuilt Colombian mountain landscape, and augmented car chases using greenscreen actors combined with rotoscoping to minimize reliance on keying. Coordination challenges stemmed from global filming logistics, requiring a centralized workflow portal tracked with ftrack and Shotgun software to align practical effects—supervised by Alejandro Vazquez—with digital enhancements.[31] Editing was led by Hervé Schneid, ACE, who assembled the eight-episode series to maintain rhythmic pacing amid nonlinear storytelling and multilingual elements.[33] Sound design, handled by Luca Anzellotti, prioritized immersive environmental audio, where elements like helicopter rotors and gunfire frequently overwhelmed dialogue to evoke chaos and disorientation, building on techniques from prior projects like Gomorrah.[8] Color grading drew from on-set practices by cinematographer Romain Lacourbas, who used Livegrade for real-time LUT application and look visualization, streamlining post-production decisions for the series' desaturated, gritty palettes across diverse locales.[34] This technical pipeline ensured the final 2.39:1 anamorphic presentation amplified the production's cinematic scale without compromising authenticity.[12]Episodes
Season 1 Episode Guide
Season 1 of ZeroZeroZero comprises eight episodes that trace the perilous global journey of a 5-ton cocaine shipment, interweaving narratives among Calabrian 'Ndrangheta members in Italy, brokers from a New Orleans shipping family, and operatives from a Mexican cartel. The episodes originally premiered in paired broadcasts on Sky Atlantic in Italy, beginning February 14, 2020, and concluding March 6, 2020.[35] Directed by Stefano Sollima for the first two installments, Janus Metz for the next three, and Pablo Trapero for the final three, the season's teleplays were primarily penned by Leonardo Fasoli and Mauricio Katz, with contributions from Stefano Sollima and adaptations from Roberto Saviano's nonfiction book.[36][17]Music and Soundtrack
Original Score
The original score for the television series ZeroZeroZero was composed by the Scottish post-rock band Mogwai, consisting of members Barry Burns, Dominic Aitchison, and Martin Bulloch, among others.[37] Their instrumental music, characterized by atmospheric guitar textures, dynamic builds, and minimalist percussion, underscores the series' themes of global drug trafficking, violence, and moral ambiguity across its eight episodes.[38] Mogwai's involvement marked a continuation of their work in television scoring, following projects like The Returned and Kin, where their sound design emphasizes tension without relying on vocals.[39] The score album, titled ZeroZeroZero, was released digitally on May 1, 2020, via Rock Action Records, coinciding with the series' international rollout on platforms including Amazon Prime Video and Sky Atlantic.[39] [38] It features 17 tracks, including "Visit Me," "I'm Not Going When I Don't Get Back," "Telt," "Chicken Guns," and "Nose Pints," which blend brooding drones, escalating riffs, and subtle electronic elements to mirror the narrative's cross-continental scope—from Mexico to Italy to Africa.[38] A limited vinyl edition followed on April 17, 2021, for Record Store Day, pressed to 6,000 copies worldwide, with a CD version issued later due to sustained demand.[40] Proceeds from initial digital sales supported COVID-19 relief efforts, as announced by the band.[41] Mogwai's composition process integrated with the series' production under director Stefano Sollima, adapting to filming across three continents to evoke a sense of relentless pursuit and cultural dislocation inherent in Roberto Saviano's source novel.[42] The score avoids conventional orchestral swells, opting instead for post-rock's raw, improvisational edge, which critics noted amplified the realism of cartel operations and institutional corruption without sentimentalizing the violence.[43] This approach aligns with Mogwai's discography, prioritizing sonic landscapes over melodic resolution to heighten viewer unease.Featured Songs and Licensing
The television series ZeroZeroZero features a limited selection of licensed songs beyond its original score, primarily to underscore regional cultural contexts within scenes depicting the international cocaine trade. These include "Amor Traicionado", written by Immanuel Miralda and performed by Amantes del Futuro featuring Sofía Espinosa, which appears in a sequence evoking Mexican influences.[44] Another is "Cumbia del Payaso", also composed by Miralda, contributing to the show's atmospheric authenticity in Latin American settings.[44] Licensing for these tracks was managed through standard production music rights acquisition, integrated into the series' co-production agreements across platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Sky Atlantic, and Canal+, ensuring synchronization rights for global distribution. No public details emerged regarding specific licensing disputes or costs, consistent with the emphasis on Mogwai's bespoke score for the majority of musical needs.[39]Release and Distribution
Premiere and Broadcast Details
ZeroZeroZero premiered on television in Italy on Sky Atlantic on February 14, 2020, with the first two episodes airing at 9:15 PM, followed by subsequent episodes released weekly on Fridays until the season finale on March 6, 2020.[45][46] The series was produced as a Sky Original, with broadcasting rights held by Sky in Italy and other European markets.[47] In the United States, Canada, Latin America, and several other territories, all eight episodes were made available for streaming simultaneously on Amazon Prime Video on March 6, 2020, adopting a binge-release model typical of the platform's strategy for original content.[10][48] This full-season drop contrasted with the episodic rollout in Italy, allowing immediate access to the complete narrative arc centered on the global cocaine trade.[3] The United Kingdom broadcast was delayed, premiering on Sky Atlantic as a box set on February 4, 2021, available via Sky and NOW TV, reflecting regional distribution timelines influenced by licensing agreements and production partnerships between Sky and Amazon Studios.[49][50] Internationally, the series has been distributed through Amazon Prime Video in over 200 countries, with availability varying by licensing deals, though some regions like parts of Europe retained Sky exclusivity for initial broadcasts.[48]International Availability and Platforms
ZeroZeroZero became available internationally through a combination of regional broadcasters and streaming services, reflecting its co-production status involving Sky, Canal+, and Amazon Studios. In Europe, the series premiered on Sky Atlantic in Italy, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, and Austria starting February 14, 2020, with episodes released weekly.[51] Simultaneously, Canal+ distributed it in France and other French-speaking European and African countries from the same date.[51] Outside Europe, Amazon Prime Video released all eight episodes simultaneously on March 6, 2020, in the United States, Canada, Latin America, and additional territories where the service operates.[48] This global rollout on Prime Video extended to regions including Australia and Spain, positioning it as an Amazon Original for subscribers. In select markets, such as the UK, it is also accessible via Now TV, Sky's streaming platform, with full seasons available for on-demand viewing.[52] For non-subscribers or regions without primary streaming rights, options include digital purchase or rental on platforms like Apple TV and YouTube in countries such as Australia.[53] [54] Availability remains subject to licensing agreements, with ongoing access primarily through Amazon Prime Video in supported territories as of 2025.[3]Reception and Analysis
Critical Reviews
ZeroZeroZero received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise centered on its ambitious scope, cinematography, and atmospheric tension, though some faulted its pacing and originality. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds a 94% approval rating from 34 critic reviews, with consensus describing it as "an addictive thriller whose greatest weakness is that it is at times too withholding" yet one that "will stick with you long after the credits roll."[6] Metacritic aggregates a score of 74 out of 100 based on 11 reviews, reflecting a more mixed reception that highlights strong production values alongside criticisms of narrative depth.[4] Critics frequently commended the series' visual style and global production scale, spanning Mexico, Italy, and Senegal to depict the cocaine trade's international reach. Roger Ebert's review awarded it 8.5 out of 10, calling it an "ambitious, incredibly successful—almost brilliant—7-hour movie" with visually arresting sequences and effective tension-building.[13] Empire Magazine gave it 4 out of 5 stars, noting its "exciting action, bravura filmmaking and tangible atmosphere" despite being a "sprawling, hardly original drug drama."[5] The Loyola Maroon described it as a "compelling yet flawed global narcothriller" that proves "undeniably addictive," attributing much of its draw to the high-stakes plotting and ensemble performances.[55] However, detractors pointed to narrative shortcomings, including slow pacing and an overreliance on style over substantive character development. The Guardian characterized it as "gorgeous to look at" and "brutal enough for a trafficking tale," but critiqued its "nihilistic streak" and positioning as "methadone to the heroin of" superior shows like Gomorrah, suggesting it prioritizes grim spectacle over deeper insight.[7] Some Metacritic user-critic hybrids, while not purely professional, echoed professional sentiments by praising early episodes' intensity before faulting later ones for predictability and uneven acting, such as Gabriel Byrne and Tchéky Karyo's performances as paycheck-driven.[4] Overall, the series' fidelity to Roberto Saviano's source material on the cocaine economy's brutality garnered respect, though its serialized format occasionally diluted the urgency of its core shipment-gone-wrong premise.[56]| Aggregator | Critic Score | Number of Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Rotten Tomatoes | 94% | 34 |
| Metacritic | 74/100 | 11 |