Peacock and Sky have locked in a second season for The Day of the Jackal, the Lashana Lynch and Eddie Redmayne-led series that has been making waves on both sides of the Atlantic. The renewal comes just over a week after its 10-part first season premiered on Peacock, delivering strong ratings and widespread buzz.
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Adapted by Ronan Bennett from Frederick Forsyth’s bestselling novel, Season 1 introduced viewers to the Jackal (Redmayne), a highly skilled and elusive assassin who takes on high-stakes jobs for the right price. However, his latest mission puts him in the crosshairs of a relentless British intelligence officer, played by Lynch, leading to a pulse-pounding game of cat-and-mouse that spans Europe. The ensemble cast also includes Úrsula Corberó, Charles Dance, Richard Dormer, Chukwudi Iwuji, Lia Williams, Khalid Abdalla, Eleanor Matsuura, Jonjo O’Neill, and Sule Rimi.
The show has been a hit for both networks, topping Peacock’s most-watched list this week according to Nielsen, and becoming Sky’s highest-rated original series of all time, pulling in 3 million viewers within seven days. Internationally, it has sold to nearly 200 territories, with SkyShowtime handling distribution across Europe and Disney+ picking it up for Latin America.
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The creative team behind the series features executive producers Gareth Neame, Nigel Marchant, Sam Hoyle, Sue Naegle, Bennett, Brian Kirk, and Redmayne, with Lynch serving as a co-executive producer. Directors for Season 1 include Kirk, Anthony Philipson, Paul Wilmshurst, and Anu Menon. Produced by Carnival Films (backed by Universal International Studios), the series is distributed globally by NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution.
Neame and Marchant shared insights about their approach to the adaptation, emphasizing a modern take that deliberately avoids the political tones of the 1971 novel. With the momentum of its first season, The Day of the Jackal is poised to keep delivering edge-of-your-seat action and intrigue in its next chapter.