An acclaimed Netflix spy thriller series has still not been renewed for season 2, butEddie 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 greatNetflix spy thriller seriesthat 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 Jackalfocuses 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 ofThe Day of the Jackalare unique in more ways than one, it is hard not to see how it shares similarities with Netflix’sBodyguard. Both shows feature emotionally complex and volatile but highly skilled protagonists.
…The Day of the Jackalcomes off asBodyguard’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 Jackalcomes off asBodyguard’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 inThe Day of the Jackal, Richard Madden got a Golden Globe win for his portrayal of the titular figure in Netflix’sBodyguard. Unfortunately, despite earning immense acclaim and even landing an Emmy nomination,Bodyguardnever returned for another season after its opening installment.
Long before Netflix got the rights to broadcast the show outside the United Kingdom and Ireland,Bodyguardalso 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 (viaThe Sun) even revealed that the creative process forBodyguardseason 2 has officially kicked off, andthe show could potentially materialize in “the next two years.“Unfortunately, since then, not a lot has been said about its production or potential release.
The Day of the Jackalhas been officially renewed for season 2andpromising updates from Eddie Redmaynesuggest he has already read scripts for the new season.
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 outEddie Redmayne’sThe Day of the Jackalwhile hoping for its return.
Its Renewal Highlights Its Potential As A Flagship Entry To The Genre
Image via Peacock
Given how seven years have passed sinceThe 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 toThe Day of the Jackal, however, its season 2’s production is already in motion, according to several reports.Eddie Redmaynehas 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 Jackalseems to have a bright future ahead.
The Day of the Jackal
In this gripping thriller, an elusive assassin known as the Jackal orchestrates high-stakes hits for exorbitant fees, only to confront a determined British intelligence officer. Their tense pursuit unfolds across Europe, blending intense action with strategic maneuvers in a relentless cat-and-mouse chase.
