An acclaimed Netflix spy thriller series has still not been renewed for season 2, but Eddie Redmayne‘s new hit show seems to be its perfect replacement. In a career spanning over 25 years, Eddie Redmayne has starred in shows and movies of several genres.
Apart from earning worldwide acclaim for his parts in diverse films and TV series, Redmayne has also won an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and a Golden Globe Award. His accolades prove he is one of the finest actors of modern times, and his performance in a recent spy thriller seems to further cement this.
Boasting a Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score of 85%, the series is based on a renowned 52-year-old film but reimagines the original political setting with a more contemporary lens. The show not only paved the way for Redmayne to land a Golden Globe win but also seemingly filled the void for a great Netflix spy thriller series that has still not been renewed after season 1.
The Day Of The Jackal Is One Of TV’s Best British Spy Thrillers Since Netflix’s Bodyguard
The Show Has Been Hailed As A Brilliant Take On The 1973 Movie
Based on the Frederick Forsyth novel and its 1973 movie adaptation of the same name, The Day of the Jackal focuses on an elite sniper (played by Redmayne) who ends up in an intense game of cat-and-mouse with a clever British intelligence officer after pulling off one of his biggest assassinations.
Although the series unfolds in a familiar narrative domain and does not drift too far from its source material in terms of structure and character beats, it does a brilliant job of making the original narrative more relevant for the present times. As the show’s leads, both Redmayne and Lashna Lynch also deliver memorable performances that further elevate the overarching action and drama.
Although the narrative elements and character beats of The Day of the Jackal are unique in more ways than one, it is hard not to see how it shares similarities with Netflix’s Bodyguard. Both shows feature emotionally complex and volatile but highly skilled protagonists.
…The Day of the Jackal comes off as Bodyguard‘s perfect replacement, given how it riffs on similar themes but expands its vision to a more international scale.
Through the political underpinnings in their narrative, the two series also explore modern concerns surrounding terrorism, surveillance, and mistrust towards the government. Owing to these similarities, The Day of the Jackal comes off as Bodyguard‘s perfect replacement, given how it riffs on similar themes but expands its vision to a more international scale.
Will Bodyguard Season 2 Ever Happen?
Bodyguard’s Return Seems Uncertain After All These Years
Just like Eddie Redmayne won a Golden Globe for his performance in The Day of the Jackal, Richard Madden got a Golden Globe win for his portrayal of the titular figure in Netflix’s Bodyguard. Unfortunately, despite earning immense acclaim and even landing an Emmy nomination, Bodyguard never returned for another season after its opening installment.
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8 Biggest Differences Between Eddie Redmayne’s The Day Of The Jackal Show & The 1973 Movie
The Day of the Jackal is the latest adaptation of the 1971 novel, but the modern TV show makes several adjustments to the source material.
Long before Netflix got the rights to broadcast the show outside the United Kingdom and Ireland, Bodyguard also performed incredibly well on BBC One. Although there were reports about its potential return, no official announcements surrounding season 2 have been made to date.
In a 2021 interview, a source (via The Sun) even revealed that the creative process for Bodyguard season 2 has officially kicked off, and the show could potentially materialize in “the next two years.“ Unfortunately, since then, not a lot has been said about its production or potential release.
Showrunner Jed Mercurio has also expressed his interest in returning to the series by claiming that he “would love to do something [with season 2] in the next couple of years.” However, since the cogwheels of its production are yet to move, viewers can check out Eddie Redmayne‘s The Day of the Jackal while hoping for its return.
The Day Of The Jackal Could Become A Spy Thriller TV Staple
Its Renewal Highlights Its Potential As A Flagship Entry To The Genre
Image via Peacock
Given how seven years have passed since The Bodyguard‘s initial release, it seems unlikely the show’s season 2 will ever see the light of day. Actor Richard Madden, who plays the titular bodyguard in the series, also seems to be caught up with several other movie and television projects.
When it comes to The Day of the Jackal, however, its season 2’s production is already in motion, according to several reports. Eddie Redmayne has also expressed his excitement about the show’s return by saying that he looks forward to seeing whether they can “push it to another level.” With so much going in the show’s favor, The Day of the Jackal seems to have a bright future ahead.
