The NBCUniversal streamer renewed The Day of the Jackal for a second season last month. On Peacock, the series ranked among the top five original streaming series in the US during its opening weekend, based on preliminary Nielsen data.
The series is based on a 1971 novel by Frederick Forsyth, which was previously adapted into a 1973 feature film. The series follows a cat-and-mouse game between a chameleonic assassin (Redmayne) and an MI6 agent (Lynch) who is determined to catch him. The series still has two episodes left and the finale will be released on Thursday, December 12.
According to Barb, seven of the top 10 Sky series this year were Sky Originals productions. Sky Originals drama, particularly in 2024, has achieved the best performance in the broadcaster's history with titles such as The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Sweetpea and The Day of the Jackal all reaching audiences of more than two million viewers.
“2024 has been an extraordinary year for Sky’s original programming across all genres. We’ve delivered an unmissable line up of shows, exemplifying our renewed strategic focus on creating premium content that we are truly proud of,” said Cécile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of Sky Studios & Chief Content Officer for Sky.
“This year marks our best performing year for Sky Original drama in our history, which is particularly gratifying at a time when audiences are spoiled for choice. It’s a privilege to bring Sky customers such compelling, high-calibre programming, and I’m excited to show our audiences what is coming next.”
