Set within theTerminatoruniverse, Netflix’s sci-fi action animeTerminator Zerointroduces a brand-new roster of characters and cast members to the storied franchise. Developed by Mattson Tomlin (The Batman) and directed by animator Masashi Kudō (Bleach), the eight-episode first season of the series was beautifully crafted by animation studio Production I.G. and Skydance Television. Unlike other entries in theTerminatortimeline,Terminator Zerotakes place in Japan, though it still pulls in lore, includingTerminator’s post-apocalyptic Judgment Day, from James Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd’s pre-existingTerminatormovies, sequels, and spin-offs.
For fans of the franchise,Terminator Zeroputs forth familiar story beats, but with a few fresh twists, making the Netflix anime the definitive example ofhow theTerminatorfranchise can move forward. As Judgment Day approaches, scientist Malcolm Lee (André Holland) frets over whether to release his AI system, KOKORO (Rosario Dawson), to counteract the soon-to-be-launched Skynet. Meanwhile,a Terminator is sent back from the future to track down Malcolm, three children, and their nanny Misaki(Sumalee Montano), which prompts resistance soldier Eiko (Sonoya Mizuno) to travel from 2022 to 1997 to stop the cybernetic assassin.
André Holland As Malcolm Lee
Date Of Birth: June 13, 2025
Actor:Born in Bessemer, Alabama, Holland’s first on-screen performance was in an episode ofLaw & Order, thoughhe cut his teeth on stage, playing three roles in the acclaimedBlue Door. Since then, Holland has played a political activist in Ava DuVernay’s historical drama filmSelma, sports writer Wendell Smith in the Chadwick Boseman-starring42, and the character of David in Barry Jenkins' Academy Award-winningMoonlight. The actor’s other major projects includeShirley,Exhibiting Forgiveness,Passing,Bones and All,The Knick,Castle Rock, andThe Big Cigar.
42
Wendell Smith
Character:A father and scientist with a mysterious past, Malcolm is hard at work developing an AI, KOKORO, that can stop Skynet from causing Judgement Day — an apocalyptic event he’s had dreams of for years.
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Sonoya Mizuno As Eiko
Date Of Birth: July 25, 2025
Actor:Born in Tokyo, Japan, British actor Sonoya Mizuno began her career as a professional model for brands like Chanel, Alexander McQueen, Saint Laurent and Louis Vuitton. In 2014,she made her feature film debut in Alex Garland’s acclaimed science-fiction thrillerExMachina, and went on to land parts inLa La Land,Crazy Rich Asians, and Cary Joji Fukunaga’sManiac. Although Mizuno has appeared in otherAlex Garland movies, such asCivil War,Men, andAnnihilation, she played the lead in the filmmaker’s lauded miniseries,Devs. Most recently, Mizuno gained even more visibility for her role as Mysaria inHouse of the Dragon.
House of the Dragon
Civil War
Anya
Character:A hardened resistance soldier, Eiko is sent back in time from 2022 to 1997 in order to protect Malcolm and his children from the Terminator, all while stopping Malcolm from activating KOKORO.
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Rosario Dawson As KOKORO
Date Of Birth: Aug 09, 2025
Actor:Born in New York, Dawson made her feature-film debut in the 1995 independent drama Kids before landing parts in big-name projects likeJosie and the Pussycats,Men in Black II,Rent,Clerks II, andSin City. More recently, the actor appeared in the acclaimed miniseriesDopesick, voiced Diana Prince/Wonder Woman in the DC Animated Movie Universe’s projects, andlanded the role of fan-favorite character Ahsoka Tano, leading to her appearance in several live-action Star Wars projects, includingThe Mandalorian,The Book of Boba Fett, andAhsoka.
Justice League Dark,Wonder Woman: Bloodlines& other DC animated movies
Diana Price/Wonder Woman
Character:KOKORO is a highly advanced AI developed by Malcolm Lee as Japan’s answer to Skynet.
Sumalee Montano as Misaki
Date Of Birth: June 26, 2025
Actor:Born and raised in Ohio, Montano also spent some time in Bangkok, Thailand while growing up. Before beginning a career in acting,she was an investment bank analyst in New York City and Hong Kong.Since switching careers, Montano has appeared in numerous big-name live-action projects, includingVeep,This Is Us, andScandal, among many others. On the voice-over side of things, Montano has played characters inStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic,Beware the Batman,Transformers Prime,Dragon Age: Inquisition, andGhost of Tsushima, among many others.
Ghost of Tsushima
Yuna
Character:Misaki is a mysterious young woman who cares for Malcolm’s children and runs errands while he’s at work — though there’s more to her than meets the eye.
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Timothy Olyphant As The Terminator
Date Of Birth: August 04, 2025
Actor:Although he was born in Honolulu, Hawai’i, Olyphant mainly grew up in Modesto, California. In 1996, he made his feature film debut inThe First Wives Club, and, just a few years later,Olyphant nabbed a breakout role inScream 2. Since then, the actor’s most well-known projects have grown to includeDeadwood,Justified,Santa Clarita Diet, andDamages, though he’s also had notable guest star roles inThe Mandalorian,Curb Your Enthusiasm, andThe Good Place.
The Mandalorian
Cobb Vanth
Character:The Terminator is a cybernetic assassin who was sent back in time to eliminate Malcolm Lee before he has the chance to stop Skynet’s Judgement Day.
Ann Dowd As The Prophet
Date Of Birth: August 22, 2025
Actor:Born in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Dowd’s first big screen role was in 1997’sShiloh. After appearing in cult hit All Over Me, Dowd went on to land roles in classics such asThe Manchurian Candidate,Philadelphia,Garden State,Marley & Me, andCompliance, with the latter earning her a National Board of Review Award. In addition to appearing in big-name films likeHereditary,Mass, andThe Exorcist: Believer,Dowd received an Emmy nomination for her portrayal of Patti Levin in HBO’sThe Leftoversbefore finally winning an Emmy for her role as Aunt Lydia in Hulu’s adaptation ofThe Handmaid’s Tale.
Compliance
Sandra Frum
Character:The Prophet is the Resistance’s spiritual and philosophical leader, who provides Eiko with more insight into both time travel and her mission.
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Terminator Zero’s Supporting Characters
Other Notable Voices From The Cast Of Netflix’s Terminator Zero
Armani Jackson as Kenta:Best known for his roles inWolf PackandReady Player One, Jackson plays Kenta, Malcolm’s older and robot-obsessed son, inTerminator Zero.
Carter Rockwood as Hiro:Rockwood has lent his voice toBatman: The Caped Crusaderand plays Hiro, Malcolm’s caring younger son, inTerminator Zero.
Gideon Adlon as Reika:Although Adlon is more well-known for her live-action roles inBlockers,The Mustang, andThe Thing About Pam, she has provided voice-over work forPacific Rim: The BlackandTerminator: Zero, in which she plays Malcolm’s caring and insightful daughter, Reika.
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Terminator Zero Japanese Voice Actors
Netflix’s Terminator Zero Features Both Japanese & English Voice Casts
Netflix viewers are able to watchTerminator Zerowith either English or Japanese voice tracks. That said,Terminator Zero’s Japanese voice cast includes the following talent:
