Love them or hate them, movie-to-TV adaptations are here to stay.
The Day of the Jackal is a critically acclaimed 1973 film that received series treatment on Peacock. It offers a whole new perspective on the Hitman saga and is sure to keep you on your toes.
This is an adaptation you’re sure to love.
Starring Academy Award winner Eddie Redman as The Jackal and Lashana Lynch as the agent who will stop at nothing to stop The Jackal, The Day of the Jackal is the ultimate game of cat and mouse, but you never know which is which.
I don’t want to give too much away. If you’ve seen the movie (available on Prime Video), you know what to expect.
But this is expected to be an ongoing series adaptation, so the way things play out will be very different from the movie out of sheer necessity and to make sure they don’t just rehash the same notes from the movie.
Movies about killers and assassins are made quite frequently these days.
I can immediately think of the entire John Wick franchise, as well as the recent Netflix film Hitman, which shares the same themes as Day of the Jackal.
Redmayne is an Oscar-winning performer who can bring subtlety and boldness to a seasoned killer, and his performance makes “The Day of the Jackal” worth watching.
Lynch is an exciting new addition to the story, and her appearance is reminiscent of Sandra Oh’s Eve Polastri in “Killing Eve.”
Like Eve, Bianca struggles with the thrill of the hunt, her fascination with a man so good at his job, constantly outsmarting the authorities.
Here is the official diary of the series:
The Jackal is an unparalleled and elusive lone assassin who makes a living by charging top dollar for his strikes.
But after his latest kill, he crosses paths with a tenacious British intelligence officer who embarks on a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe, hunting down the jackals and leaving destruction in their wake.
We had the chance to speak with Redmayne and Lynch about the show during a recent press conference to promote the series.
Redmayne enjoyed playing the role of Jackal. The film was beloved by his family, whose tapes were worn out from repeated viewings.
Redmayne calls the Peacock series “completely fresh,” packed with ferocious propulsion that retains the elegance and DNA of the original while giving him the freedom to further explore the character and make him his own.
Bianca is a new character in the universe, and Lynch is excited that her addition will make the material accessible to a younger generation while showcasing the challenges women face in such roles.
Watch the full interview below.
“Day of the Jackal” will be broadcast on Peacock in the United States on November 14th, with a total of five episodes (yes, five episodes!). Viewers outside the United States can watch the premiere on Sky on November 7.
Are you a fan of the original film The Day of the Jackal?
What new avenues do you think a series adaptation could explore?
If you put this film on your must-see list, let us know!
