Eddie Redmayne’s 2024 spy seriesThe Day of the Jackalproved a huge success for the actor, but he starred in a very different kind of spy movie nearly two decades earlier that audiences should check out too. Redmayne ledThe Day of the Jackal’s castas the titular assassin, and he was well-matched by Lashana Lynch’s Bianca Pullman.
While season 2 will necessarily look different thanks toThe Day of the Jackal’s season 1 endingand major death, audiences can look forward to Redmayne’s return.The Day of the Jackalseason 2 is already confirmed, but in the meantime, this forgotten spy movie makes an entertaining replacement.
The Good Shepherd Was Eddie Redmayne’s Very First Spy Role
The Spy Movie Has A Great Cast
Long before Eddie Redmayne took on the role of the Jackal,he appeared in the movieThe Good Shepherd, which explores the origins of the CIA. In the film, Redmayne plays the son of the main character, Edward Wilson Jr., who becomes interested in following in his father’s footsteps by joining the intelligence community.
The film centers on Edward Wilson Sr. (Matt Damon), who becomes a spy during World War II and moves up the ranks as the US enters the Cold War. During this time, he works to uncover a mole in his department, allowing the film to explore the personal and moral sacrifices that Wilson is forced to make.
Despite earning mixed reviews at the time it was released,The Good Shepherdhas a great cast who deliver solid performancesand an intriguing (though somewhat fictional) retelling of the early days of the CIA.Matt Damon takes the lead role, and he is joined by Angelina Jolie, Robert De Niro (who also directs), Joe Pesci, John Turturro, and more.
The Day Of The Jackal Is A Much More Action-Packed Spy Thriller Than The Good Shepherd
The Good Shepherd Explores The Emotional Toll Of Intelligence Work
WhileThe Day of the JackalandThe Good Shepherdboth fall within the spy thriller genre, the two projects take a very different approach to what it means to be a spy. Where Eddie Redmayne’s Jackal is quite brutal in his decisions and the show as a whole features more action,The Good Shepherdis much more dramatic.
The movie feels more like a classicCold War-era spy filmthat displays the inner workings of the agency and its characters. There are still action sequences, but overall,The Good Shepherdplays out more like a drama film that highlights Edward Wilson Sr.’s feelingsand the extent to which he tries to hide them while pursuing the agency’s goals.
To a lesser extent, this dramatic element is seen inThe Day of the Jackalas well, particularly with Bianca Pullman and all she stands to lose as the series progresses. While Damon’s character and his interactions are the primary focus of the film, Redmayne delivers a great early performance, making the movie well worth a watch for fans.
