Top Boy creator Ronan Bennett has announced a new TV drama with Game of Thrones director Brian Kirk at the helm.
The upcoming series will be based on Frederick Forsyth's seminal thriller The Day of the Jackal, which was adapted into an award-winning film in 1973.
It tells the story of a group of OAS French terrorists who hire an assassin known as the 'Jackal' to kill President Charles de Gaulle after the French government grants Algeria independence.
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The new adaptation is expected to be a contemporary reimagining that digs deeper into the anti-hero at the centre of the story and reflects the current geopolitical climate, while staying loyal to the spirit of the original novel and film.
Bennett will write and showrun the series, which was commissioned by Sky and Peacock, and filming will begin next summer. The cast is yet to be announced.
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"It is an exciting prospect to work with Ronan Bennett and Brian Kirk on this contemporary cat-and-mouse thriller inspired by Frederick Forsyth’s respected novel and the much admired and remembered Fred Zinnemann movie," Gareth Neame, Executive Producer, Carnival Films said.
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He continued: "We’ll retain the pan-European setting and play to the strengths of episodic television in this fast paced, intelligent international thriller with the story of an assassin and the race to stop him still at the heart of the action."
Lisa Katz, President of Scripted Content, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, added: "We’re excited to adapt this internationally recognised classic into an updated, timely, political thriller.
"Shepherded by novelist and showrunner Ronan Bennett and Carnival, this action-packed high-stakes drama is sure to be an edge-of-your seat adventure for Peacock audiences."
Day of the Jackal will be available to watch on Peacock in the US and on Sky in the UK.
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Social Executive, Entertainment Portfolio After completing her joint honours degree in Journalism and English Literature at Cardiff University, Iona joined Digital Spy as a Content Production Intern in 2022, where she wrote across both news and features, specialising in TV and movies. Following her internship, Iona continued contributing to the site as a freelance reporter, becoming social executive for the Hearst UK entertainment portfolio in summer 2025. Iona now leads the DS social channels, covering red carpets with stars such as Paul Mescal, Austin Butler, and more.
