Frederick Forsyth’s classic novel The Day Of The Jackal and the subsequent much-loved 1973 movie starring Edward Fox are set to be given a modern twist in a new Sky and Peacock Original series starring British Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne.
The Theory of Everything and The Good Nurse star Eddie will play the assassin known only to authorities as 'The Jackal' in this reimagining, which gets to the heart of the infamous mercenary. Top Boy writer Ronan Bennett is behind the script, which is now set against the complex political climate of our contemporary world.
Here’s everything we know about The Day of The Jackal series so far…
The Day of the Jackal season 1 release date
The Day of the Jackal is a 10-part series that launched on Thursday, November 7, 2024 on Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
In the US the series landed on NBC Universal streaming service Peacock on Thursday, November 14 2024.
How to watch The Day of the Jackal: release dates, streaming options and where to watch for free
Is there a trailer?
Yes, The Day Of The Jackal official and teaser trailers give us a glimpse at all the drama we can expect from the new thriller series. Take a look at both below and compare them the 1973 film trailer for The Day Of The Jackal with Edward Fox below both...
The Day of the Jackal series plot
The plot of The Day Of The Jackal digs into the character of the legendary assassin The Jackal. As the drama begins, the Jackal is in Munich, where his latest hit shocks the world. But he is then approached by a mysterious, anonymous source and offered an eye-watering fee to take on the assassination of another prominent figure, which could also have widespread repercussions. But he soon encounters potential set-backs…
Along the way, as the Jackal battles to track his quarry and also relentlessly chases payment for his previous hit, he is brought into contact with a host of shady characters, from Northern Irish gun maker Norman (Richard Dormer) to enigmatic businessman Timothy Winthrop (Charles Dance).
But the Jackal is initially unaware that dogged MI6 operative and fire arms expert Bianca Pullman (Lashana Lynch), also has him in her sights, due to the on-going fallout from the events in Germany. As Bianca begins a single-minded mission to identify the Jackal and prevent him from murdering again, can he stay one step ahead?
While this female-led manhunt is a fresh spin on the book and original film, in another intriguing change, the Jackal is no longer an isolated character without apparent ties, as we gradually learn about his rich backstory and his bond with wife Nuria (Úrsula Corberó), who has no idea about his murderous job. But, as her suspicions grow, the emotional pressures on him increase.
The Day of the Jackal series cast — Eddie Redmayne on playing assassin The Jackal
The hitman of The Day of The Jackal is played by Eddie Redmayne, who says: "The original was a film I was brought up on and I read the book a long time ago and adored them both. This felt inspired by, but free from them, it’s a different beast.
"The Jackal’s a character I was curious to play. There’s something old school about him. I wanted him to be elegant, calm and economic. But is he also sociopathic? He glides through space like a knife through butter. And he’s an artist who assumes different identities.’
‘He enjoys all the elements of his job and thinking three moves ahead. There’s delight when those dominoes are set up,’ shares Redmayne. ‘But the second that cascade gets disrupted, it’s about watching someone fumble out of control.
"‘The archetype of the empathy-less assassin whose blood runs cold couldn’t work in this version,’ teases Redmayne. ‘He and his wife love each other, but he has lied to her. He’s made a huge amount of money and thinks he can wrap things up and they can start a new life. That’s his weakness…"
For Eddie Redmayne, one of the highlights of filming was getting the chance to adopt a range of extreme disguises as the Jackal, and to prepare for the role, he worked with movement and voice coaches and also learnt surveillance techniques from a real-life ex-soldier.
"I thought it’d be a challenge. There’s shapeshifting with the physicality and the prosthetics, so it was an actor’s dream. I start by playing a 65-year-old German cleaner!’ reveals the star, who was also thrilled to shoot the series in Hungary, Croatia, Austria and the UK, which stand in for the stunning global locations that provide the backdrop to Bianca’s hunt for the Jackal and his own pursuit of his target.
"This feels big with the scope and indulgence of seeing these beautiful parts of the world. What I loved about the original movie was that we leapt across the world with someone who seems to nip on a train as he pleases. I hope audiences enjoy going on that ride."
* British star Eddie Redmayne is used to playing chilling characters, having recently starred as killer nurse Charles Cullen in The Good Nurse. He won an Oscar for his turn as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything and plays Newt in the Fantastic Beasts movies. Eddie has also starred in Birdsong, The Trial of the Chicago Seven, The Danish Girl, Les Miserables, My Week With Marilyn and The Good Shepherd.
Lashana Lynch on playing Bianca
The Day of the Jackal series cast also includes Lashana Lynch who will play Bianca, a tenacious law enforcement agent determined to catch The Jackal.
She says: "I saw this as a beautiful opportunity to dive deeper into a modern Black woman’s story and balance strength and vulnerability. Bianca rubs people up the wrong way and does things in the most unorthodox manner to get what she wants and her home life suffers. But she loves the chase with the Jackal. Every episode, you’re cheering for one of them or the other."
* Lashana Lynch has previously starred in the Bond movie No Time To Die and she's part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the role of Maria Rambeau in the movies Captain Marvel, “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. She was Miss Honey in Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical and recently finished filming on the Bob Marley biopic One Love.
Who else is starring in The Day of the Jackal series?
Other cast of The Day of the Jackal include Úrsula Corberó, star of hit Netflix series La Casa De Papel (Money Heist), who play Nuria, someone at the heart of The Jackal’s personal life, but unaware of that he's a top assasin.
Charles Dance (Game of Thrones, The King’s Man) plays Timothy Winthrop, Richard Dormer (Blue Lights, Fortitude, Game of Thrones) is Norman, Chukwudi Iwuji (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Split) plays Osita Halcrow, Lia Williams (The Capture, The Crown) is Isabel Kirby.
Khalid Abdalla (The Crown, The Kite Runner) plays Ulle Dag Charles, Eleanor Matsuura (The Walking Dead, I Used To Be Famous) is playing Zina Jansone, Jonjo O’Neill (Andor, Bad Sisters) plays Edward Carver and Sule Rimi (Classified, Andor) plays Paul Pullman.
All about The Day of the Jackal novel by Frederick Forsyth
Frederick Forsyth’s novel The Day Of The Jackal was published in 1971 and focuses on an English hitman called The Jackal who is contracted by a French dissident paramilitary organisation to kill the French president Charles de Gaulle. The assassin is a master of disguise and deception and the novel follows the deputy police commissioner Claude Lebel who is determined to catch him. Frederick Forsyth is a prolific British thriller writer whose other novels include The Odessa File, The Fourth Protocol and Avenger!.
The Day of the Jackal previous film adaptations
The original 1973 movie The Day Of The Jackal was directed by Fred Zinnemann and starred Edward Fox as the Jackal. Michael Lonsdale played the detective Lebel trying to catch him while Derek Jacobi, Michel Auclair and Tony Britton also starred. This 1973 movie is currently available on ITVX and Sky Movies.
In 1997 Bruce Willis starred in the movie The Jackal, about a ‘faceless’ assassin. The film also featured Richard Gere, Sidney Poitier and Jack Black but Frederick Forsyth refused to allow his name to be used in connection with it and director Fred Zinnemann battled with the studio to ensure the adaptation had a different title to the original film.
Behind the scenes and more on The Day Of The Jackal
This series of The Day Of The Jackal is written and adapted by Ronan Bennett, creator and writer of the critically acclaimed Top Boy. Internationally award-winning Director Brian Kirk (Game of Thrones, Luther, Boardwalk Empire) is the lead director.
Gareth Neame and Nigel Marchant are Executive Producers for Carnival Films. Redmayne is also an Executive Producer, and Lynch a Co-Executive Producer on the project. Sam Hoyle is the Executive Producer for Sky Studios. Sue Naegle serves as Executive Producer and Marianne Buckland as Co-Executive Producer. Christopher Hall is Producer and Emily Shapland is Co-Producer. Frederick Forsyth is Consulting Producer.
