The Hot Zone Gets Second Season

National Geographic has greenlit The Hot Zone for a second season, which will focus on the anthrax attacks of 2001.

From Touchstone Television and Scott Free Productions, The Hot Zone marks the network’s highest-rated scripted series to date. Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson return as executive producers and showrunners for this next installment.

“The gripping, propulsive story of the hunt for the anthrax killer who terrorized the country in the dark days that followed the September 11 attacks couldn’t be more timely,” said Carolyn Bernstein, executive VP of global scripted content and documentary films. “As the world battles COVID-19, another deadly and mysterious virus, The Hot Zone: Anthrax is a scientific thriller for our time.”

“While many of us can recall the breaking news headlines and the widespread fear that ensued when anthrax emerged in America, there are still layers to this story that have not yet been told,” said Souders. “The second season of our anthology series will dive deep into the forensic investigation of a simple envelope that sent the entire Eastern Seaboard into a panic.”

“After a terrific collaboration with our friends at National Geographic on The Hot Zone, we couldn’t be more excited to be back in business with the same stellar team for another season,” said David W. Zucker, president of Scott Free Television. “All of us well remember the anthrax attacks in 2001, which rocked and terrified the country. We’re eager to tell this extraordinary story of all the drama that unfolded to overcome the attacks and identify the perpetrator.”