Lashana Lynch joins Carnival Films' reimagining of The Day of the Jackal for Sky & Peacock

Sky and Peacock announced today that Lashana Lynch (The Woman King, No Time to Die) will star opposite Eddie Redmayne (The Good Nurse, Trial of The Chicago Seven  and The Theory of Everything) in the upcoming original television series The Day of the Jackal  in the role of Bianca, a tenacious law enforcement agent determined to catch The Jackal. Lynch is a Co-Executive Producer on the series. The Day of the Jackal  is based on the seminal Frederick Forsyth thriller which was subsequently adapted into the award-winning 1973 film of the same name from Universal Pictures. The series is from Universal International Studios and produced by Carnival Films.

Lashana recently wrapped filming for Reinaldo Marcus Green’s Bob Marley biopic, Bob Marley: One Love, opposite Kingsley Ben-Adir, playing the role of ‘Rita Marley,’ Bob Marley’s wife.  Last year, Lashana was also seen in Gina Prince-Bythewood’s The Woman King opposite Viola Davis and Thuso Mbedu. She also made her singing debut in Matthew Warchus’ musical film, Matilda, opposite Alisha Weir and Emma Thompson in the role of ‘Miss Honey’. Lashana also reprised her role in the Marvel Comic Universe in Sam Raimi’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. In 2021, and most notably, Lashana was seen in Cary Joji Fukunaga’s No Time To Die, alongside Daniel Craig and Rami Malek. On television, Lashana was the breakout in Shonda Rhimes’ ABC period drama series, Still Star-Crossed, in the leading role of ‘Rosaline Capulet’, Silent Witness, a crime drama series on BBC ONE; Death in Paradise, a crime comedy-drama series also airing on BBC ONE; Atlantis, a BBC fantasy-adventure TV series; and Crims, a comedy series on BBC Three in 2015.

The Day of the Jackal  is a bold, modern reimagining of the beloved and respected novel and film. This contemporary drama will stay true to the DNA of the original story while delving 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.

The series is being written and adapted by Irish screenwriter and novelist Ronan Bennett, creator and writer of the critically acclaimed global hit Top Boy. Bennett’s writing credits also include the BBC One series Gunpowder starring Kit Harrington, as well as screenplays for films such as Face  and Public Enemies  starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale. Internationally award-winning Director Brian Kirk, whose television credits include Game of Thrones, Luther, Boardwalk Empire and feature film 21 Bridges  is set to direct the series.

The Day of the Jackal  is produced by Downton Abbey  and The Last Kingdom producers  Carnival Films, which is part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group and was commissioned by Sky Studios and Peacock.

Gareth Neame and Nigel Marchant are Executive Producers for Carnival Films. Eddie Redmayne will also serve as executive producer. Sam Hoyle is Executive Producer for Sky Studios, Frederick Forsyth is on board as a Consulting Producer and Christopher Hall is Producer. Production on the series will commence this year.

The Day of the Jackal  is the latest project to showcase the strength of the Comcast portfolio, bringing together the creative power of Universal Studio Group and the global reach of Sky and Peacock with owned IP from Universal Pictures.

The series will be available on Peacock in the US and on Sky in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. NBCUniversal Global Distribution will handle international sales of the series.

Press Contacts 

• Sky: thom.will@sky.uk 

• Peacock: joey.levine@nbcuni.com 

• Universal International Studios & Carnival: can.salahi@nbcuni.com