Grace Gummer has joined Nat Geo scripted series The Hot Zone in a recurring role. Gummer (Mr. Robot) will play Melinda Rhodes, who meets Wade Carter (Liam Cunningham) and Trevor Rhodes (James D’Arcy) in 1976 Zaire, Africa while living in the region as an aid worker. Rhodes is one of the first people on-the-ground to encounter the deadly and mysterious Ebola virus. Along with Carter and Rhodes, Rhodes chases the disease into the jungle, helping those infected to no avail.
The Ebola virus first made its way to U.S. soil in 1989, a terrifying time period that the Nat Geo drama will also cover. In addition to those mentioned above, The Hot Zone also stars Julianna Margulies, Topher Grace, Noah Emmerich, Paul James, Nick Searcy, Robert Wisdom and Robert Sean Leonard.
Michael Uppendahl and Nick Murphy are directors. Kelly Soulders and Brian Peterson are showrunners and executive producers. Uppendahl is also an EP.
The Hot Zone is also executive produced by Lynda Obst Production’s Lynda Obst and Scott Free Production’s Ridley Scott and David Zucker. For National Geographic, Carolyn G. Bernstein is executive vice president and head of global scripted development and production. The series is produced by Fox 21 Television Studios, Lynda Obst Productions, Scott Free Productions, Kelly Souders, Brian Peterson and Jeff Vintar.
