Introduction

The Day of the Jackal is a British spy thriller television series, based on the Frederick Forsyth novel of the same name.

It stars Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch. It is written and created by Ronan Bennett, produced by Christopher Hall and directed by Brian Kirk, Anthony Philipson, Paul Wilmshurst and Anu Menon. The first series began airing in November 2024.

That same month, it was renewed for a second series.

Outline

In Tallinn, the Jackal is forced to include Zina in his planning. In Spain, Nuria grows more sceptical of his story. The Jackal contacts Stoke to craft a weapon for Ulle’s assassination. However, as Norman was wounded escaping Bianca, the Jackal travels to Budapest to help him assemble the gun. They build the weapon with a 3D printer to hide in an orthopedic boot. Stoke confesses he was helped to escape by someone in MI6. Back in London, in the aftermath of Larry’s attack, Bianca’s husband and daughter leave home. Bianca and Vincent torture Larry for Stoke’s location. Learning he is in Budapest, Bianca also uncovers that Ulle is the Jackal’s target. MI6 tracks Stoke’s location, prompting Bianca and Vincent to arrive in Budapest. The Jackal sees them approaching Stoke’s workshop and warns him but Stoke is captured. The Jackal is forced to kill Stoke to cover his tracks before narrowly escaping Bianca’s pursuit. However, he is knocked out by a farmer whilst hiding in a barn.

The Day of the Jackal Series

You can find an overview and episode guide for The Day of the Jackal here.

Remakes

• The Day of the Jackal (1973): A political thriller film directed by Fred Zinnemann and starring Edward Fox and Michael Lonsdale.
  • Based on the 1971 novel of the same name by Frederick Forsyth, the film is about a professional assassin known only as the “Jackal” who is hired to assassinate French president Charles de Gaulle in the summer of 1963.
• August 1 (1988): An Indian Malayalam-language film directed by Sibi Malayil, written by S.N. Swamy, and starring Mammootty, Sukumaran, Captain Raju and Urvashi.
  • This adaptation relocates the story to the Indian state of Kerala.
• The Jackal (1997): An American film directed by Michael Caton-Jones, written by Chuck Pfarrer, and starring Bruce Willis, Richard Gere, Sidney Poitier and Diane Venora.
  • Forsyth, Woolf, Zinnemann and Fox opposed the production and filed an injunction to prevent Universal Pictures from using the name of the original novel and film, and it would be marketed as being “inspired by” rather than directly based on Forsyth’s novel.
  • The film does not credit Forsyth’s novel as source material, and only credits Kenneth Ross with “earlier screenplay.”

Production & Filming Details

• Release Date: 07 November 2024.
• Running Time: 46-61 minutes (per episode).
• Rating: TV-MA.
• Country: UK.
• Language: English.

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