Sky and Peacock announced today the commission of The Day of the Jackal, an original drama series from Carnival Films based on the seminal thriller.
Frederick Forsyth’s award-winning page-turner The Day of the Jackal follows a professional assassin known only as “the Jackal” who is hired to kill French President Charles de Gaulle, and the race-against-the-clock hunt for the Jackal by government security forces to prevent the assassination. The story was first adapted for the screen in the 1973 film starring Edward Fox and Michael Lonsdale.
Nearly 50 years after the Oscar®-nominated and BAFTA Award-winning film was released, Sky and Peacock are partnering up for a television drama series inspired by the book — a bold and contemporary reimagining of the beloved and respected novel and film. While the series will remain true to the DNA of the original intellectual property (IP), it will delve deeper into the chameleon-like anti-hero at the heart of the story in a high octane, cinematic, globetrotting cat-and-mouse’ thriller, set amidst the turbulent geopolitical landscape of our time.
The Day of the Jackal will be produced by Carnival Films (The Last Kingdom) in association with Sky Studios (Gangs of London). Irish screenwriter Ronan Bennett (Top Boy, Public Enemies) is attached to write and showrun, and the award-winning Brian Kirk (Game of Thrones, Luther) will be lead director.
Said Gareth Neame, Executive Producer, Carnival Films:
“It is an exciting prospect to work with Ronan Bennett and Brian Kirk on this contemporary cat-and-mouse thriller inspired by Frederick Forsyth’s respected novel and the much admired and remembered Fred Zinnemann movie. We’ll 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.”
Lisa Katz, President Scripted Content, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, stated:
“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.”
And Meghan Lyvers, Director of Original Drama, Sky Studios UK&I, commented:
“The Day of the Jackal is a timeless international espionage thriller that is beloved the world over. Ronan’s propulsive storytelling will keep viewers on the edge of their seats, and we cannot wait to bring this premium, cinematic, globe-trotting series to Sky audiences across Europe.”
The series was commissioned by Gabriel Silver, Director of Commissioning, Drama, and Sam Hoyle, Executive Producer, at Sky Studios for Zai Bennett, MD of Content at Sky UK & Ireland. Gareth Neame and Nigel Marchant are Executive Producers for Carnival Films. Frederick Forsyth will serve as Consulting Producer and Christopher Hall is Producer. Production will start next summer.
The Day of the Jackal will be available on Peacock in the US and on Sky in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. NBCUniversal Global Distribution will handle international sales of the series.
Stay tuned for updates.
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