The Day of the Jackal» Adaptation Secures Second Season Following High Ratings

A recent adaptation of Frederick Forsyth‘s acclaimed novel, «The Day of the Jackal,» is poised for a return to the small screen with a second season, according to the announcement by the production companies involved. This development follows the series’ successful debut as a 10-part thriller on both Peacock in the United States and Sky in the United Kingdom.

The series, adapted by Ronan Bennett and starring Eddie Redmayne as the enigmatic assassin, the Jackal, alongside Cush Jumbo as a tenacious British intelligence officer, has garnered significant viewership and critical acclaim. Its gripping narrative revolves around the cat-and-mouse game between the Jackal and his pursuer, weaving a path of destruction across Europe. Other cast members include Úrsula Corberó, Charles Dance, Richard Dormer, Chukwudi Iwuji, among others.

According to Nielsen ratings, «The Day of the Jackal» achieved the number one spot in Peacock’s top 10 most-watched shows, and it was among the top five original streaming series for its opening weekend in the U.S. Likewise, Sky reported the series as its top-rated original after a week, achieving 3 million views. The show is distributed globally across nearly 200 territories, including platforms like SkyShowtime in Europe and Disney+ in Latin America.

Executive producers for the series include Gareth Neame, Nigel Marchant, Sam Hoyle, and Sue Naegle, with Ronan Bennett, Brian Kirk, and Eddie Redmayne playing key roles as producers. Marianne Buckland and Cush Jumbo serve as co-executive producers. The series’ direction is helmed by talents such as Brian Kirk, Anthony Philipson, Paul Wilmshurst, and Anu Menon. Produced by a Universal International Studios-backed company, NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution handles the series’ global sales.

The creative team behind «The Day of the Jackal» opted for a contemporary retelling of Forsyth’s 1971 novel, consciously steering away from the political undertones of its original storyline, which has been a point of comment by producers Neame and Marchant.