Eddie Redmayne To Play Lead in ‘Day of the Jackal’ Adaptation

Eddie Redmayne is very well known for his brilliant roles in famed films like Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Good Nurse, and The Theory of Everything. The actor is also famed for playing roles in a lot of autobiographical projects and has a great range. Redmayne can play any sort of character with his style of nuance and grace. He has now been chosen to play the Jackal in the TV adaptation of Fredrick Forsyth’s novel Day of the Jackal. Here’s the plot summary of the original novel, first published in 1971. 

The Day of the Jackal is a political thriller novel by English author Frederick Forsyth about a professional assassin who is contracted by the OAS, a French dissident paramilitary organization, to kill Charles de Gaulle, the President of France.

A Sky/Peacock Original Series

The series will be a production by Sky/Peacock starring the Oscar-winning actor. It is expected to put a new modern twist to the story from the novel and the film that was made prior to the upcoming show. The makers of the show are calling it a  “bold, modern reimagining of the beloved and respected novel and film.” 

The series has brought on the writer of many successful projects such as Public Enemies, Face, and Gunpowder starring Kit Harrington. The Irish talent Ronan Bennett is more than just a screenwriter. He is also a novelist, and this only adds another layer of intricate detail to the film. 

Since a novelist would be expected to better understand another novelist, this way, perhaps the adaptation can stay true to the original created by Forsyth and still find its own place in the contemporary world. Producers of the show also have brought on-board director Brian Kirk who has previously worked on shows such as Game of Thrones, Luther, and Boardwalk Empire. Universal International studios are all set to produce the show with a lot of talented cast and crew members.

“We are excited to bring to life Ronan Bennett’s re-imagining of Forsyth’s revered thriller in the complex world in which we live today and are incredibly fortunate to have an actor of Eddie’s caliber as our Jackal,” said Gareth Neame. “Paired with Ronan’s screenplay and Brian Kirk’s direction, this is a first-class creative team.”

Neame is the CEO and executive producer behind Carnival Films, which is a subdivision of Universal working with Sky/Peacock. In a smart move, the makers have also brought forth Forsyth, the original author, to be a consulting producer as the series plans to begin filming sometime this year.

Redmayne has made no comment regarding his role as the interesting character of the Jackal. The original story is set in 1962 and focuses on the assassination attempt of the French president by a secretive underground organization by the name of OAS. Redmayne will likely go through the book and the previous film to prepare for the role.

He needs to embody the Jackal and be a bit perceptive, smooth, and intelligent. Redmayne has won multiple awards for his roles in the past and is sure to introduce some nuance to the role. 

Other than Forsyth, other producers include Christopher Hall, who will be the producer of the show, along with Sam Hoyle, who will be the executive producer from the side of Sky Studios. 

The series is all set to release in the U.K., Ireland, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, with NBC Universal Global Distribution handling its international distribution. Release dates are yet to be revealed, but since the show’s filming is yet to commence, it’s a safe assumption that it make take a year or two to be finished.