Netflix is developing a major bet for 2026, by bringing two Hollywood heavyweights to adapt an action thriller. The platform confirmed the production of a film based on the upcoming book Cold Zero by best-selling author Brad Thor, with the screenplay signed by Nic Pizzolatto, the creator of the acclaimed series True Detective. Production will be handled by Peter Berg, director of hits like Lone Survivor, through his production company Film 44. With a release date yet to be determined, the project got the green light after Netflix executives were impacted by the book’s manuscript, which will be published on February 10, 2026.
The plot of Cold Zero promises pure adrenaline, as it follows a state-of-the-art commercial airliner that makes a forced landing near the North Pole. Thus, the survivors are trapped in one of the planet’s most hostile environments. However, the big question is that the aircraft was secretly transporting a revolutionary and top-secret technology. Therefore, its disappearance triggers a global and extremely high-stakes race among the world’s major powers, all in search of this innovation capable of reshaping the balance of power. The adaptation for the screen emerges, therefore, as an attempt to replicate the success of other geopolitical thrillers, uniting an acclaimed writer, an award-winning showrunner, and a filmmaker specialized in realistic action.
The Talents Behind the Camera
Beyond the obvious highlight given to Nic Pizzolatto, who besides True Detective has a project with Matthew McConaughey on Netflix, the choice of Peter Berg as producer is a major asset. Berg not only has a long-standing relationship with the platform, with his studio Film 44 renewing a production deal last year, but he is also responsible for films based on real events that generated great engagement. Meanwhile, Brad Thor, the author of the original work, will serve as executive producer, ensuring fidelity to his vision. His list of best-sellers, including The Lions of Lucerne, is already famous for high-stakes scenarios and international conspiracies, which should please fans of the genre.
The announcement of this project consolidates Netflix’s strategy of investing in intellectual properties with great commercial appeal, acquiring the rights to works not yet published. Thus, the platform seeks to create a cinematic event from the very beginning, capitalizing on the anticipation surrounding the book’s release. With the right combination of creative talents and a captivating premise, Cold Zero has everything it takes to become one of the major action releases in the coming years in the streamer’s Brazilian catalog.
