You might remember the original 1973 film or the classic Frederick Forsyth novel. It was cold. Minimalist. Almost clinical. But the 2024 reboot on Peacock and Sky Atlantic is a completely different beast, mostly because of the people in front of the camera. If you're wondering who stars in The Day of the Jackal, you're looking at a lineup that feels more like a prestige blockbuster than a standard TV procedural.
Honestly, the show lives or dies on the chemistry between the hunter and the hunted. It’s a massive production, and they didn’t play it safe with the casting.
The Man with a Thousand Faces: Eddie Redmayne
Eddie Redmayne leads the charge. He plays the titular Jackal, but don't expect the shy, bumbling persona from Fantastic Beasts. This version of the character, whose real name we eventually learn is Alexander Duggan, is a former British Special Forces sniper who went rogue after faking his own death in Afghanistan.
Redmayne is eerily good here.
He spends half the series behind layers of prosthetics. One minute he’s a German janitor with a limp, the next he’s a suave businessman. It’s a physical performance. He actually learned how to handle a sniper rifle from real military espionage experts to make the mechanics look authentic. What’s wild is how he balances the "cold-blooded killer" vibe with being a dedicated family man. It shouldn't work. Somehow, it does.
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The Relentless Pursuer: Lashana Lynch
Opposite him is Lashana Lynch as Bianca Pullman. If you saw her in No Time to Die or The Woman King, you know she can handle action. But Bianca isn't a superhero. She’s an MI6 firearms expert who is, frankly, kind of a mess in her personal life.
Lynch has been open about wanting to make Bianca "unlikeable" at times. She’s brash. She rolls her eyes. She’s obsessed with the case to the point where her marriage to Paul (played by Sule Rimi) starts to disintegrate. This isn't just a cat-and-mouse game; it's a look at how obsession ruins people. Lynch also served as an executive producer, ensuring the character felt grounded in a modern, West London reality.
The Secret Life: Úrsula Corberó
Then there’s Nuria. Played by Money Heist star Úrsula Corberó, she is the emotional heart of the story. Nuria is the Jackal’s wife, living in a stunning villa in Cadiz, Spain.
For a long time, she has absolutely no idea her husband is the world’s most dangerous hitman. She thinks he’s an international corporate consultant. Corberó brings a warmth that makes the Jackal’s lies feel even more devastating. She’s basically his Achilles' heel. When the two worlds collide, it’s her performance that makes the stakes feel real rather than just "spy stuff."
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The Power Players and Supporting Heavyweights
The supporting cast is stacked with "hey, it’s that guy" actors and genuine legends.
- Charles Dance as Timothy Winthrop: The Game of Thrones veteran plays a ruthless billionaire who commissions the Jackal for a $100 million hit. He’s the puppet master, and nobody does "menacing in a suit" better than Dance.
- Khalid Abdalla as Ulle Dag Charles (UDC): You might recognize him as Dodi Fayed from The Crown. Here, he’s a tech visionary who wants to launch "River," a software that would expose global financial corruption. He’s the Jackal’s primary target.
- Chukwudi Iwuji as Osita Halcrow: An MI6 agent who works alongside (and sometimes against) Bianca. He brings a much-needed gravitas to the office politics of the show.
- Lia Williams as Isabel Kirby: The MI6 Chief of Staff. She’s caught between the mission to catch the Jackal and the political pressure coming from people like Winthrop.
- Eleanor Matsuura as Zina Jansone: The middleman—or woman, in this case—who bridges the gap between the wealthy clients and the Jackal.
Why This Specific Cast Matters for the Story
This isn't just about big names. The 2024 version expands the story into 10 episodes, which means we spend a lot of time on backstory.
In the original 1973 film, the Jackal was a cipher. We knew nothing about him. In this series, creator Ronan Bennett gives us a man with a wife, a child, and a mortgage. You need actors like Redmayne and Corberó to sell that domesticity so that when the shooting starts, you actually care if they survive.
The diversity of the cast also reflects a modern MI6. It’s not just guys in grey suits in wood-panneled rooms anymore. It’s people like Bianca Pullman, who are fighting for a seat at the table while trying to remember to pick up their kid from school.
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What’s Next for the Cast?
The show was a massive hit—number one on Peacock during its launch week. Because of that success, a second season has already been greenlit.
While Season 1 felt like a self-contained chase, the finale left enough threads to keep going. We know Eddie Redmayne is returning. We also know David Harrower is taking over as the lead writer for the next chapter. If you haven't finished the first season yet, pay close attention to the smaller players—folks like Richard Dormer (Norman Stoke) and Eleanor Matsuura—because in this universe, anyone who survives is fair game for a comeback.
Practical Steps for Fans:
- Watch the original: Compare Redmayne’s performance to Edward Fox’s 1973 version to see how the "silent assassin" trope has evolved.
- Check the credits: Look for the name Ronan Bennett; if you like the gritty tone of this show, his work on Top Boy is a must-watch.
- Stay tuned for Season 2: Production details are trickling out, but expect a shift in location as the Jackal finds new ways to disappear.