Eddie Redmayne to lead series version of Day of the Jackal from Sky, Peacock

SERIES MANIA: British actor Eddie Redmayne has been cast in the lead role of the drama series adaptation of The Day of the Jackal which is in the works at European pay TV broadcaster Sky and US streamer Peacock.

Eddie Redmayne

The series is based on the seminal Frederick Forsyth thriller and subsequent award-winning 1973 film adaptation of the same name from Universal Pictures. Redmayne will also executive produce the project.

The show will be produced by Downton Abbey and The Last Kingdom producer Carnival Films, which is part of Universal International Studios.

Redmayne won an Academy Award for his performance in The Theory of Everything and his credits also include The Trial of The Chicago Seven, The Danish Girl and Les Miserables.

While staying true to the DNA of the original story, this contemporary drama will delve deeper into the chameleon-like anti-hero hitman known as the Jackal at the heart of the story.

Irish screenwriter and novelist Ronan Bennett, creator and writer of the critically acclaimed global hit Top Boy, is attached as writer and showrunner. Bennett’s writing credits also include the BBC One series Gunpowder starring Kit Harrington, as well as screenplays for films such as Face and Public Enemies, starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale.

Director Brian Kirk’s television credits include Game of Thrones, Luther, Boardwalk Empire and feature film 21 Bridges.

Gareth Neame, CEO and executive producer at Carnival Films, said: “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 calibre as our Jackal. Paired with Ronan’s screenplay and Brian Kirk’s direction, this is a first-class creative team.”

Production will start this year. Neame and Nigel Marchant are executive producers for Carnival Films. Forsyth will serve as consulting producer and Christopher Hall is producer. Sam Hoyle is exec producer for Sky Studios.

The series will be available on Peacock in the US and Sky in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. NBCUniversal Global Distribution will handle international sales.