‘The Day of the Jackal’ becomes biggest Sky Original ever

The Day of the Jackal has become the biggest launch on Sky in over two years, drawing a record audience of 3m in its first week making it the biggest Sky Original ever. The 10-part thriller, produced by Carnival Films and starring Eddie Redmayne, Lashana Lynch, and Úrsula Corberó, premiered on 7th November with overnight ratings of 711k. Since then, the series has continued to captivate audiences, reaching a seven-day viewership of 3m. It will debut on Peacock in the US on 14th November, with new episodes premiering weekly each Thursday thereafter. 

The series has sold to almost 200 territories globally, including SkyShowtime across Europe, Disney+ in LatAm, Amazon Prime Video in France, Corus in Canada, TVNZ in New Zealand, JioCinema in India, Wowow in Japan, Content Wavve in South Korea, Showmax and M-Net in Sub-Saharan Africa, OSN in UAE and Middle East and North Africa and Binge in Australia where it has already become the platform’s biggest new series launch this year.  

Meghan Lyvers, Executive Director of Original Scripted, Sky UK and Ireland, said: "We are thrilled by the phenomenal global reception of The Day of the Jackal. This series has captivated audiences with its propulsive storytelling, epic scope, and unforgettable performances from Eddie Redmayne, Lashana Lynch, and Úrsula Corberó. Becoming Sky’s biggest Original to date is a true reflection of the passion, dedication, and masterful artistry poured into every scene.”

Executive Producers Gareth Neame and Nigel Marchant of Carnival Films, said: "The overwhelming response to The Day of the Jackal has exceeded all expectations. Our goal was to bring a fresh perspective to this iconic story, and we’re thrilled to see how well it has been received by audiences in the UK but also around the world. We couldn’t have done it without the exceptional Eddie Redmayne, Lashana Lynch and the entire cast and crew; this record-breaking success is a testament to their incredible talent.” 

The Day of the Jackal is produced by Carnival Films, which is part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group, and was commissioned by Sky Studios and Peacock. The series is available on Peacock in the US and on Sky in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution handle international sales of the series.

Contact: georgina.anthony@sky.uk, thom.will@sky.uk

Notes to Editors: 

The 10-part adaptation is based on the seminal novel by Frederick Forsyth and subsequent award-winning 1973 film from Universal Pictures. The series is written and adapted by Ronan Bennett, creator and writer of the critically acclaimed Top Boy. Internationally award-winning Director Brian Kirk (Game of Thrones, Luther, Boardwalk Empire) is the lead director.

Gareth Neame and Nigel Marchant are Executive Producers for Carnival Films. Redmayne is also an Executive Producer, and Lynch a Co-Executive Producer on the project. Sam Hoyle is the Executive Producer for Sky Studios. Sue Naegle serves as Executive Producer and Marianne Buckland as Co-Executive Producer. Christopher Hall is Producer and Emily Shapland is Co-Producer. Frederick Forsyth is Consulting Producer. 

Series Details: 

Writer / Showrunner / Executive Producer: Ronan Bennett   

Executive Producers: Gareth Neame and Nigel Marchant (Carnival Films), Sam Hoyle (Sky Studios), Sue Naegle 

Executive Producer / Director: Brian Kirk  

Executive Producer / Star: Eddie Redmayne  

Co-Executive Producer / Star: Lashana Lynch  

Co-Executive Producer: Marianne Buckland 

Consulting Producer: Frederick Forsyth  

Principal Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Lashana Lynch, Úrsula Corberó 

Supporting Cast: Charles Dance, Richard Dormer, Chukwudi Iwuji, Lia Williams, Khalid Abdalla, Eleanor Matsuura, Jonjo O’Neill, Nick Blood, Sule Rimi, Florisa Kamara 

Produced by: Carnival Films, which is part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group  

Distribution: NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution