The Day of the Jackal (TV series)
A contemporary reimagining of the classic assassin thriller.
The Day of the Jackal is a British spy thriller television series that premiered in November 2024. Based on the Frederick Forsyth novel and the 1973 film of the same name, the series reimagines the story in a contemporary political setting. It stars Eddie Redmayne as the titular assassin and Lashana Lynch as the intelligence officer pursuing him. The series received positive reviews and two Golden Globe Award nominations.
- Genre
- Spy thriller
- Creator
- Ronan Bennett
- Lead actors
- Eddie Redmayne, Lashana Lynch
- Network
- Sky Atlantic (UK), Peacock (US)
- First aired
- November 2024
- Seasons
- 2 (second season to premiere in 2027)
Lore & Background
The series was announced in November 2022 as a project for Carnival Films with Sky and Peacock. Ronan Bennett served as writer and showrunner, with Brian Kirk as lead director. Filming began in June 2023 across four countries, including Hungary, Austria, and Croatia. The ten-episode first series aired weekly from 7 November to 12 December 2024. On 22 November 2024, the series was renewed for a second season, with production beginning in February 2026 and a premiere set for 2027.
The cast includes Eddie Redmayne as the Jackal (real name Alexander Duggan), a Sandhurst dropout and UKSF veteran turned international assassin. Lashana Lynch plays Bianca Pullman, a former police officer and MI6 agent. Other main cast members include Úrsula Corberó, Charles Dance, and Chukwudi Iwuji. The series gives more insight into the Jackal as a protagonist, with Redmayne describing it as 'a completely different piece' that has been reconceived and contemporised with a new target.
Reader's Guide
The Day of the Jackal received generally favorable reviews, with an 85% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 72 out of 100. Critics praised Eddie Redmayne's performance and the globetrotting locations, though some felt the runtime was bloated with unnecessary backstory. The series earned two Golden Globe Award nominations: Best Television Series – Drama and Best Actor for Redmayne. Its significance lies in updating a classic thriller for modern audiences, maintaining the cat-and-mouse dynamic while expanding the assassin's backstory. The series was distributed internationally through multiple platforms, including Foxtel in Australia and Disney+ in Latin America.
Did You Know?
- The series is a reimagining of the Frederick Forsyth novel and 1973 film, set in a contemporary political context.
- Eddie Redmayne described the series as 'a completely different piece' that has been 'reconceived and contemporised with a new target'.
- Filming took place in four countries: Hungary, Austria, Croatia, and the UK.
- The series was renewed for a second season just two weeks after its premiere in November 2024.
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