Sky have announced that a TV adaptation of 'The Day of the Jackal' is in development with 'Game of Thrones' director Brian Kirk helming the project.
The new series is a "bold, contemporary reimagining of the beloved and respected novel and film. While remaining true to the DNA of the original IP, this contemporary drama will delve deeper into the chameleon like ‘anti-hero’ at the heart of the story, in a high octane, cinematic, globetrotting 'cat and mouse' thriller, set amidst the turbulent geo-political landscape of our time."
Irish screenwriter Ronan Bennet, known for his work on 'Top Boy' is attached as showrunner.
The 1971 book is one of the best known and respected British novels of the 20th century. It follows a professional assassin contracted by a French paramilitary dissident to kill French President Charles de Gaulle.
The novel splits into three parts: ‘Anatomy of a Plot,’ ‘Anatomy of a Manhunt’ and ‘Anatomy of a Kill.’
Two years after the novel, a movie adaptation directed by Fred Zinnemann was released. Starring Edward Fox and Michael Lonsdale, the film went on to win the BAFTA Award for Best Editing. It also picked up five more BAFTA nominations, two Golden Globe nominations, and one Oscar nomination.
“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," said executive producer Gareth Neame.
"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."
Production on the series will commence next summer. 'The Day of the Jackal' will be available on Peacock in the US and on Sky in the UK and Ireland.
