The Day of the Jackal season 1: Release date, cast, plot, and everything you need to know

Modified Nov 03, 2024 13:08 GMT

"The Day Of The Jackal" - UK Premiere - VIP Arrivals - Source: Getty — The Day Of The Jackal - UK Premiere (Image via Getty)

The Day of the Jackal season 1 is an upcoming political thriller series directed by Brian Kirk. It is based on Frederick Forsyth's 1971 eponymous novel, which was adapted into an award-winning film starring Edward Fox in 1973 . The series features Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch in lead roles.

Ronan Bennett serves as the show's writer, showrunner, and producer, while Gareth Neame, Nigel Marchant, Eddie Redmayne, and Sam Hoyle serve as its executive producers. The Day of the Jackal season 1 is set to premiere on November 7, 2024, on Sky Atlantic and NOW in the United Kingdom, followed by new episodes dropping every week.

The show will also be available on Peacock on November 14 for the American viewers.

The synopsis of the miniseries, as per Sky TV, reads:

"The Jackal is an elusive assassin who makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee. He soon meets his match in a tenacious British intelligence officer who tracks him down in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe."

Everything to know about The Day of the Jackal season 1

The Day of the Jackal season 1 is a modern interpretation of the 1971 story and is set in the present times. It is loosely based on the real-life event of Jean-Marie Bastien-Thiry's failed assassination attempt on the French President, Charles de Gaulle in 1962.

The Day of the Jackal season 1 will have a runtime of 60 minutes and span over 10 episodes. The first five episodes will be rolled out on Peacock at once on November 14, 2024. The next four episodes will release once a week every Thursday. Its double-episode finale will air on December 12, 2024.

Plot summary

The Day of the Jackal season 1 follows the cat-and-mouse chase between the titular Jackal, a skilled contract killer, and the British intelligence officer, Bianca. Jackal is hired by the French paramilitary group to kill the French President, Charles de Gaulle.

The deadly assassin has gained notoriety for killing his targets effortlessly, with long-distance shots from rooftops and escaping without leaving any trace behind. What makes Jackal almost impossible to catch is his chameleonic ability to disappear with the help of disguises and fake accents.

But, the MI6 agent Bianca (Lashana Lynch) will stop at nothing to track down Jackal, even if it comes at a personal cost.