As a self-proclaimed connoisseur of espionage thrillers who has seen more spy movies than I can count on one hand (and still have fingers left over), I am beyond excited for the premiere of The Day of the Jackal series on Peacock. Lashana Lynch and Eddie Redmayne, two powerhouse actors in their own right, stepping into the shoes of their respective characters, is a testament to the enduring allure of this genre.
After assuming the role of 007, no other spy character seems even slightly comparable, at least that was Lashana Lynch’s initial feeling when she received the offer to play British intelligence agent Bianca in Peacock’s espionage series “The Day of the Jackal” (the first five episodes will premiere on November 14).
The actress confessed to The Hollywood Reporter that she initially struggled to find a reason not to be part of the first three episodes of “No Time to Die,” where she played Nomi, the MI6 agent who assumes James Bond’s iconic number. She admitted feeling skeptical at first, saying something like, “I was hesitant, telling myself ‘I’m good, I’ve already done a legacy role,’ but in reality, they managed to draw me in.
Why Lashana Lynch and Eddie Redmayne said “yes” to The Day of the Jackal
Lynch’s about-face came down to the fact that the show (based on the 1971 novel of the same name by Frederick Forsyth, who consulted on the adaptation) would shine a light on an aspect of shadowy spy-work seldom seen in mainstream entertainment. “We immediately dove into the psychology that is behind women in this espionage world, which we don’t get to tackle, we don’t get to discuss,” she explained. “I really hope this show turns this on its head for the industry.”
Eddie Redmayne, the Academy Award-winning actor known for portraying the main character, joined the production because he was a dedicated fan of both the original movie and the book series by Frederick Forsyth. As he stated, “The original film adaptation and Frederick Forsyth’s books were quite influential in my development.
Although he had a great deal of fear concerning portraying a character capable of killing and assuming different identities, Redmayne chose to concentrate on the intricate “game of hide-and-seek” between Jackal and Bianca, while also focusing on Jackal’s distinctly human traits.
When does The Day of the Jackal premiere?
Starting this Thursday, November 14, the initial five episodes of “The Day of the Jackal” will have their exclusive premiere in America on Peacock. Further installments will air weekly until the two-episode conclusion on Thursday, December 12.
Peacock provides two monthly subscription options: The standard Premium option costs $7.99 per month and includes advertisements, while the upgraded Premium Plus costs $13.99 per month without ads and offers download access for select titles. If you’re a student, you can savor the Premium plan at an incredible discounted rate of only $1.99 each month for an entire year!
Ronan Bennett (a collaborator on Michael Mann’s drama “Public Enemies”) developed the show. He holds the position of executive producer together with director Brian Kirk, Eddie Redmayne, Gareth Neame, Nigel Marchant, Sam Hoyle, and Sue Naegle. Lashana Lynch and Chris Hall are listed as co-executive producer and producer respectively.
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2024-10-29 18:31