Is The Day of the Jackal inspired by true events? Explained 

The Day of the Jackal is a 10-episode British political thriller drama series that premiered in the United Kingdom on November 7, 2024, on NOW TV and SKY Atlantic. Created and produced by Ronan Bennett and directed by Brian Kirk.

Written by screenwriter Ronan Bennett, the story of the television series is loosely based on Frederick Forsyth's 1971 political thriller novel of the same name. In 1973, Fred Zinnemann directed a movie based on the book, narrating similar events.

However, The Day of the Jackal television series deviates from the original novel. The novel chronicled the story of a professional assassin named Jackal, hired by OAS to kill Charles de Gaulle, the President of France. The series reinterprets the original plot in the contemporary scenario and greatly deviates from the original book.

The novel on which the series is based is historical fiction. The event surrounding OAS devising a plan and the attempt to assassinate President Charles de Gaulle on August 22, 1962, by Jean-Marie Bastien-Thiry is indeed true. However, the successive plot is a work of fiction.

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What is the story of Frederick Forsyth's The Day of the Jackal?

Forsyth's The Day of the Jackal is a piece of historical fiction that centers around the Petit-Clamart attack. This was a planned assassination attempt by the French dissent paramilitary organization OAS (Organisation armée secrète). The organization hired Jean-Marie Bastien-Thiry to assassinate Charles de Gaulle, the president on France on August 22, 1962.

This was committed as an act of revenge for the president's decision to accept Algerian independence. This assassination failed, and all 18 participants involved in the plan were caught. Jean-Marie Bastien-Thiry was executed by firing squad on March 11, 1963. Frederick Forsyth took this event as the central theme of his novel and developed the rest of the story in fiction.

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What is the plot of The Day of the Jackal television series?

The Day of the Jackal is a modern adaptation of Frederick Forsyth's 1971 novel. The series revolves around a professional contract killer, known as the Jackal, who carries out hit assassinations at a high charge. He has a wife and kid, but they don't know about his hidden identity.

He comes onto the international radar after assassinating two miles away. British intelligence M16 Agent Bianca catches his trial and embarks on a daring chase to reveal his true identity.

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The cast of The Day of the Jackal

Eddie Redmayne is followed by Lashana Lynch as British Intelligence Agent Bianca (Image via Peacock)

Led by Eddie Redmayne playing the role of Jackal, the series follows a cast of talented actors, including:

• Lashana Lynch as Bianca
• Úrsula Corberó as Nuria
• Sule Rimi as Paul
• Ben Hall as Damian
• Chukwudi Iwuji as Osita Halcrow
• Stuart Whelan as Police
• Florisa Kamara as Jasmine Pullman
• Russell Balough as Chris
• Lia Williams as Isabel Kirby
• Richard Dormer as Norman
• Martin McDougall as Keith Canvey
• Lee Byford as Police Officer
• Jon Arias as Alvaro
• Martin McDougall as Keith Canvey
• Eleanor Matsuura as Zina Jansome
• Adam James as Jeremy Whitelock
• Khalid Abdalla as Ulle Dag Charles

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The Day of the Jackal is a Peacock original, and all the episodes will be available for streaming on their platform from November 14, 2024.