Redmayne joins "The Jackal"

 

Eddie Redmayne signed on to star in Peacock and Sky's new series adaptation of "The Day of the Jackal."   Redmayne will portray professional assassin The Jackal in a modern re-imagining of Frederick Forsyth's novel. The book centered around an assassination attempt on French President Charles de Gaulle in 1962; it was previously adapted into a classic film in 1973. The new version will take place in the present day and delve deeper into The Jackal's psychology. "Top Boy" creator and writer Ronan Bennett is penning the adaptation and will serve as showrunner. "Game of Thrones" and "Luther" vet Brian Kirk has been tapped to direct. Redmayne won the Oscar for Best Actor for the film "The Theory of Everything"; he recently co-starred with Jessica Chastain in Netflix's "The Good Nurse."