The Day of the Jackal (2024) is not a straightforward remake, but a contemporary reimagining of a classic assassin story. Rather than attempting to replicate the absolute coldness of the 1973 film, the series expands the world of the Jackal and places him within a modern global political landscape — one where power, technology, and surveillance no longer operate by old rules.

Eddie Redmayne’s Jackal is no longer a completely anonymous “ghost.” He remains precise, methodical, and lethal, but the series allows the audience to see additional layers: constant adaptation, rare moments of hesitation, and the psychological cost of living as someone who is never allowed to exist as a human being. Redmayne’s restrained performance is cold without being empty, making the Jackal both terrifying and compelling to watch.

Opposing him is Bianca Pullman (Lashana Lynch), an MI6 operative who represents the machinery of pursuit. The cat-and-mouse dynamic between the two storylines is built slowly and deliberately, without relying on constant direct confrontations. The series trusts the viewer’s patience: every small clue, every missed step, every wrong decision carries consequences, and it is precisely this accumulation that creates a persistent, suffocating tension.

In terms of pacing, The Day of the Jackal (2024) embraces the style of modern European thrillers: cold, controlled, and spacious. The story moves across multiple countries, not as visual tourism, but in service of a transnational manhunt where no one is ever truly safe. Action is used sparingly; instead, the focus remains on strategy, preparation, and detail — very much in the spirit of the original source material.

That said, expanding the story into a full series is a double-edged sword. Several mid-season episodes feel stretched, as the narrative spends more time exploring the personal lives of its characters than strictly necessary. For fans of the original, this approach may dilute some of the Jackal’s frightening mystery — a quality that once defined him.

Overall, The Day of the Jackal (2024) is a serious and intelligent adaptation. It avoids sensationalism and refuses to manipulate viewers with constant twists, opting instead for a slow, controlled descent into tension. This is a series for audiences who appreciate mature political thrillers, where suspense emerges from silence, preparation, and the creeping sense that everything is moving toward an unavoidable conclusion.

If the 1973 film was a perfect, emotionless machine, the 2024 version is a living organism — more complex, more vulnerable, and ultimately more reflective of the world we inhabit today.