Zoo (TV series)


Zoo is an American drama television series based on the 2012 novel of the same name by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge, the former also serving as an executive producer for the series, which stars James Wolk, Kristen Connolly, Nonso Anozie, Nora Arnezeder and Billy Burke as a group of varied professionals who investigates the mysterious pandemic of violent animal attacks upon humans all over the world.
Zoo premiered on June 30, 2015, on CBS. CBS renewed the series for a third season in August 2016, which aired between June 29 and September 21, 2017. On October 23, 2017, CBS announced the series had been canceled after three seasons.

Premise

Violent animal attacks upon humans are occurring all over the world. Jackson Oz, an American zoologist and his Kenyan friend, Abraham, a safari guide, as well as Jamie Campbell, a Los Angeles reporter, Mitch Morgan, a quirky veterinary pathologist, and a French intelligence agent Chloe Tousignant all seek to investigate the mysterious pandemic as the attacks become more coordinated and ferocious.

Cast

Main

Development

In October 2013, it was announced that CBS had given Zoo "a rare pilot production commitment for a pitch originating from sibling CBS TV Studios." In July 2014, the series was given a 13-episode straight-to-series order and added to the network's summer schedule.
The series premiered on June 30, 2015, on CBS. On October 2, 2015, Zoo was renewed by CBS for a second season, which premiered on June 28, 2016. On August 10, 2016, CBS renewed the series for a third season, which premiered on June 29, 2017.

Casting

James Wolk was the first to be cast, in November 2014, followed later the same month by Nora Arnezeder and Nonso Anozie. The main cast was rounded out in January 2015, with Kristen Connolly and Billy Burke. In February, Geoff Stults was cast in a recurring role for a "multi-episode arc". In March, Carl Lumbly was cast in a recurring role.
In March, 2016, Josh Salatin and Alyssa Diaz were added to the cast as series regulars in the second season. In April, Joanne Kelly was cast in a recurring role.
In December 2016, Gracie Dzienny, who guest-starred in the second-season finale, was promoted to series regular for the third season. In January, 2017, Aleks Paunovic was cast in a recurring role. In February, Athena Karkanis, Hilary Jardine, and Sophina Brown were cast in recurring roles.

Filming

The series started filming in New Orleans in January 2015. Production for the second season began filming in February 2016 in and around Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The third season started filming in mid-January 2017, also in and around Vancouver, British Columbia.

Broadcast

Zoo aired in Australia the day after the U.S premiere, and was simulcast in Canada. It was also aired in the UK and Ireland on Sky One, and in Israel in Yes Action.