Frederick Forsyth’s classic spy novel The Day of the Jackal is set to receive a TV series adaptation from Sky and Peacock.
The Day of the Jackal follows “a professional assassin who is contracted by a French paramilitary dissident to kill French President Charles de Gaulle.” The TV series will be a “contemporary reimagining of the beloved and respected novel,” with Ronan Bennett (Top Boy) set to serve as writer and showrunner and Brian Kirk (Game of Thrones) directing. The novel was previously adapted as a feature film directed by Fred Zinnemann in 1973, which starred Edward Fox and Michael Lonsdale. The film received rave reviews and went on to win Best Film Editing at the 1974 BAFTA Awards, where it was also nominated for Best Film, Best Direction, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Soundtrack.
Carnival Films executive Gareth Neame teased that the Day of the Jackal TV series will “retain the pan-European setting and play to the strengths of episodic television in this fast paced, intelligent international thriller with the story of an assassin and the race to stop him still at the heart of the action.” Lis Katz, president of scripted content at NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, added: “We’re excited to adapt this internationally recognized classic into an updated, timely, political thriller. Shepherded by novelist and showrunner Ronan Bennett and Carnival, this action-packed high-stakes drama is sure to be an edge-of-your seat adventure for Peacock audiences.” Production on the series will begin next summer, with original author Frederick Forsyth onboard as a consulting producer.
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