James Bond has been holding down the spy genre since the 1950s, but The Day of the Jackal has given the suave super-spy some major competition. Frederick Forsyth only published one story set in the Jackal-verse, but that’s been enough to sustain generations of fans. The 1971 novel was adapted into a jaunty 1973 film, and again (albeit to less acclaim) in 1997. Now, it’s time for history to repeat itself, and deliver an update on the classic spy adventure for a new generation.
That’s where Peacock’s Day of the Jackal comes in. A 10-part limited series starring Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch, the new Day of the Jackal is just one of many spy stories floating through the zeitgeist this year. Each seems to owe something to the Bond franchise, including the most compelling members of its cast. Lynch stole the show in the most recent Bond film, No Time to Die, and she’s in great form again as another determined MI6 operative. Redmayne, meanwhile, is a subversive choice to play “the Jackal,” a cold-blooded crack shot who sells his services to the highest bidder. But the British actor is nothing if not a chameleon, and he puts those skills to great use.
