Eddie Redmayne has revealed that his father gave him a firm instruction: not to “screw up” his role in the TV reboot of The Day Of The Jackal.
At the London premiere for his new Sky Atlantic series, Redmayne shared with Sky News that the 1973 film adaptation of Frederick Forsyth’s iconic thriller has long been a family favorite, one he remembers watching “from maybe quite an inappropriately young age.”
“We watched it over and over,” Redmayne said. “So when the scripts landed in my inbox, I felt a bit of trepidation. I didn’t want to butcher this character.”
Though Redmayne’s character’s target remains a mystery, the 10-part drama incorporates modern themes, such as right-wing radicalism and the influence of megalomaniac social media personalities.
Speaking on the red carpet, Redmayne expressed excitement for the series, describing it as “basically the kind of TV that I wanted to see.”
In the first episode, Redmayne’s assassin character speaks very little, but portraying him required extensive preparation.
The Oscar-winning actor trained with weapons experts, dialect coaches, and movement instructors to convincingly adopt various identities.
“The Jackal is a shapeshifter, always assuming different guises, and I love that sort of thing,” he said. Jokingly, he added, “I needed all the coaches—you know me, I need a lot of help!”
He also mentioned his father’s advice with a laugh, saying, “My dad told me, ‘don’t screw it up!’” However, he’s unsure whether he’ll show the series to his own children.
“My kids have seen the trailer,” he shared. “They’re eight and six, and they’re insisting I play a good guy next time.”
“The Jackal is a bit, well, morally ambiguous,” he added with a smile. The Day Of The Jackal premieres on Sky Atlantic and Now starting November 7.
