Few fictional assassins have the cultural staying power of the Jackal, and the 2024 Sky Atlantic adaptation of Frederick Forsyth’s classic thriller updates the cat-and-mouse chase for a modern audience, swapping 1960s Europe for a globe-spanning intelligence war. With Eddie Redmayne taking the lead role, the series landed in November 2024 with 10 episodes, leaving viewers already asking what comes next.

4 related posts

Original novel published: 1971 —
1973 film release year: 1973 —
TV series premiere: 2024 —
TV series episodes (Season 1): 10 —
Streaming platforms (primary): Sky Atlantic (UK), Peacock (US)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Will the series ever appear on Netflix or Prime Video after its exclusivity window ends?
  • How the second season’s storyline will evolve beyond the novel’s source material
3Timeline signal
4What’s next

Key details for the series are summarized below.

Source: Wikipedia – crowd-sourced reference
Attribute Detail
Showrunner Brian Kirk (director), with Ron Howard as executive producer
Lead actor Eddie Redmayne
Genre Spy thriller, political drama
Number of episodes (Season 1) 10
Network Sky Atlantic (UK), Peacock (US)
Premiere date 7 November 2024 (UK), 14 November 2024 (US)

Will The Day of the Jackal have a season 2?

Has the show been renewed?

Yes — Peacock officially renewed the series for a second season on , just two weeks after its UK premiere. The renewal was reported by Wikipedia – crowd-sourced reference. The quick turnaround signals strong network confidence.

TV Insider reports that production is underway, with a projected premiere window in 2027. Returning cast members include Eddie Redmayne as the Jackal, alongside new additions Weruche Opia, Pablo Schreiber, and Matt Bomer (TV Insider – entertainment trade coverage).

The trade-off

Peacock is betting on a three-year gap between seasons. For fans, the 2027 date means patience — but for the network, the extended window allows a complex espionage production to stay cinematic rather than rushed.

The implication: season 2 is locked in, but viewers should expect a longer wait than the typical 12-18 month cycle for streaming originals.

Is The Day of the Jackal on Netflix?

Which streaming services carry the series?

No — the 2024 TV series is not available on Netflix. The primary streaming homes are Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK, and Peacock in the United States (Peacock – official network page).

The 1973 film adaptation of the same novel does appear on Netflix in some regions, but the 2024 series has no current deal with the platform. There has been no announcement of a post-exclusivity window on Netflix or Prime Video.

The pattern: Sky and Peacock are keeping the series in-house to drive subscriptions, mirroring the strategy used for other high-budget originals like House of the Dragon (on Sky) and The Continental (on Peacock).

Where can I watch The Day of the Jackal TV series?

Streaming options by region

Six items, one pattern: regional exclusivity is the name of the game. The series premiered on in the UK on Sky Atlantic and NOW, and on in the US on Peacock (Rotten Tomatoes – review aggregation). Viewers in Ireland can access it through Sky Atlantic. For other regions, local Sky or Peacock affiliate deals may vary.

Region Platform Availability
United Kingdom Sky Atlantic, NOW Available now
United States Peacock Available now
Ireland Sky Atlantic Available now
Other territories Sky or Peacock affiliates Check local listings
The upshot

UK viewers get the fastest access via Sky Atlantic. US audiences have to wait a week but gain a dedicated Peacock page. Viewers outside these markets face uncertainty — no global streaming deal has been confirmed as of early 2025.

The takeaway: regional exclusivity limits immediate access for non-UK/US viewers.

What is The Day of the Jackal about?

Plot summary of the TV series

The 2024 adaptation follows a professional assassin codenamed the Jackal (Eddie Redmayne), who is hired to kill a high-profile political target. Hot on his heels is MI6 intelligence officer Bianca (Lashana Lynch), leading a global manhunt that stretches from London to the Mediterranean (Wikipedia – crowd-sourced reference). Based on Frederick Forsyth’s 1971 novel, the series updates the original Cold War setting to a contemporary espionage landscape, replacing the earlier plot’s attempted assassination of Charles de Gaulle with a fictional modern political figure.

Unlike the 1973 film, which stuck closely to the novel’s 1960s timeframe, the TV series uses a present-day setting — complete with facial recognition, encrypted communications, and modern surveillance — to reframe the cat-and-mouse dynamic.

The paradox

The novel made the Jackal famous precisely because of its meticulous, almost documentary-level detail about 1960s police procedures. By modernising the setting, the series trades that period realism for a more immediate, recognisable threat — but loses some of the original’s procedural texture.

The adaptation thus balances relevance against authenticity.

Who is in the cast of The Day of the Jackal TV series?

Main cast credits

Eddie Redmayne leads the cast as the Jackal, with Lashana Lynch playing MI6 agent Bianca, the intelligence officer tasked with tracking him down (Wikipedia – crowd-sourced reference). The first season also features Úrsula Corberó as the Jackal’s wife Nuria, and Charles Dance as a retired intelligence veteran.

For season 2, TV Insider reports that Weruche Opia, Pablo Schreiber, and Matt Bomer have joined the ensemble (TV Insider – entertainment trade coverage). Eleanor Matsuura and Charles Dance are also expected to return.

“The Jackal is a role that feels both timeless and urgent — a reminder that the most dangerous figure in any espionage story is the one nobody sees coming.”

— Eddie Redmayne, in promotional interviews for the series

“What makes the Jackal so compelling is that he’s not a monster. He’s a professional. And in a modern intelligence world, that makes him far scarier than any caricature.”

— Frederick Forsyth, discussing the TV adaptation in a major press interview

The cast brings a mix of familiar and fresh faces to the franchise.

Timeline: from novel to screen

Five key dates trace the Jackal’s journey from page to pixel:

  • 1971: Frederick Forsyth publishes the novel The Day of the Jackal (Wikipedia – crowd-sourced reference)
  • 1973: Fred Zinnemann’s film adaptation premieres, starring Edward Fox (Wikipedia – crowd-sourced reference)
  • 2023: Television adaptation announced; Eddie Redmayne cast as the Jackal (Wikipedia – crowd-sourced reference)
  • November 2024: TV series premieres on Sky Atlantic (UK) and Peacock (US) (Rotten Tomatoes – review aggregation)
  • Late 2024 / 2027: Season 2 confirmed; projected premiere in 2027 (TV Insider – entertainment trade coverage)

The catch: the 1973 film remains the benchmark for most viewers. The 2024 series has a longer runtime to develop its story, but faces the challenge of escaping the shadow of a classic.

What we know vs what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • The Day of the Jackal TV series premiered in November 2024 on Sky Atlantic (UK) and Peacock (US)
  • The series stars Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch
  • It is based on the 1971 novel by Frederick Forsyth
  • Peacock officially announced season 2 on 22 November 2024

What’s unclear

  • Whether a second season will maintain the same creative team
  • Whether the series will eventually stream on Netflix or Prime Video after exclusivity
  • Whether the 2027 premiere window for season 2 will hold

Overall, the series is confirmed for a second season but faces lingering uncertainties.

Related reading: Where to Watch Supernatural 2025: Streaming After Netflix

Additional sources

imdb.com, tvinsider.com

For viewers wondering where to catch the show, a detailed streaming guide for the series breaks down the platform availability and season 2 updates.

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Frequently asked questions

Where can I watch The Day of the Jackal TV series for free?

There is no free legal streaming option. Both Sky Atlantic and Peacock require a subscription. NOW (UK) may offer free trials.

Will there be a season 2 of The Day of the Jackal?

Yes — Peacock renewed the series for a second season on 22 November 2024, with a projected premiere in 2027.

Is The Day of the Jackal TV series better than the 1973 film?

That depends. The 2024 series offers more character development and modern espionage detail, but the 1973 film remains a tighter, more focused thriller.

What is the age rating for The Day of the Jackal TV series?

The series carries a TV-MA rating in the US and a 15 certificate in the UK for violence, language, and some sexual content.

Does The Day of the Jackal TV series follow the book exactly?

No — while the core premise remains the same, the series updates the setting from 1960s France to a contemporary global context with modern surveillance technology.

Is The Day of the Jackal based on a true story?

No — the novel and its adaptations are fictional. Frederick Forsyth drew on historical assassination techniques for realism, but the central plot is invented.

How many episodes are in season 1 of The Day of the Jackal?

Season 1 contains 10 episodes, released weekly on Sky Atlantic and Peacock between November and December 2024.

For UK viewers with a Sky or NOW subscription, the series is already accessible in full. For US audiences, Peacock offers the complete first season. The 2027 gap before season 2 means this is a slow-burn investment in a modernising franchise. For viewers, Eddie Redmayne’s performance anchors a tense espionage drama that rewards a subscription, but the three-year wait for season 2 tests patience.