Sky U.K. executive Meghan Lyvers has praised early footage of The Day of the Jackal season 2, describing the material as "fantastic." The spy thriller, starring Eddie Redmayne, is expected to return to screens in 2027.
Meghan Lyvers and the 'fantastic' early cuts of Season 2
Meghan Lyvers, the managing director of scripted originals at Sky U.K., has expressed significant confidence in the upcoming second installment of The Day of the Jackal.. According to the report, Lyvers has already reviewed several cuts of the new season and described the footage as fantastic, signaling a strong start for the production despite the distant premiere date.
The series, which debuted in late 2024 on Sky Atlantic in the United Kingdom and Peacock in the United States, has already established itself as a critical darling. The first season earned an 85 percent Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes and secured nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards, providing a high benchmark for the 2027 return.
Sky U.K .'s strategy of leveraging Frederick Forsyth's intellectual property
The development of The Day of the Jackal fits into a broader corporate strategy at Sky U.K. to build flagship programs around established intellectual property. As reported, Meghan Lyvers noted that the company prefers producing large, IP-based franchises, using the reimagining of Frederick Forsyth's classic novel as a primary example of this approach.
By updating the narrative to the present day rather than the 1970s setting of the original novel and the 1973 feature film, Sky U.K. has successfully modernized the spy thriller genre. this trend of "prestige reimagining" allows the network to attract audiences familiar with the source material while appealing to new viewers through contemporary stakes and high production values .
The narrative shift after Nuria fled with Carlitos
Season 2 will venture into uncharted narrative territory because the first season deviated sharply from the original book and film. The first season concluded with the protagonist, Alexander Duggan (known as The Jackal), surviving his encounters with the law, though he killed MI6 operative Bianca Pullman during a final confrontation at his Spanish residence.
The primary driver for the next chapter is the domestic collapse of the assassin's life. After discovering Alexander Duggan's true identity, his wife, Nuria, stole a portion of his wealth and disappeared with their son, Carlitos. This personal loss, combined with the fact that Duggan's identity is now exposed to multiple parties, transforms the series from a cat-and-mouse game into a desperate search for family and survival.
David Harrower's new leadership and Matt Bomer's villainous role
A significant shift is occurring behind the scenes as David Harrower, known for Lockerbie: A Search for the Truth, takes over as showrunner from the series creator, Ronan Bennett. This change in leadership suggests a potential shift in tone or pacing as the series moves away from the established beats of the first season.
The cast is also expanding to accommodate new threats. While Eddie Redmayne returns as the lead, he will be joined by series regulars Weruche Opia and Pablo Schreiber. Furthermore, the report indicates that Matt Bomer has been cast in a villainous role, though the specific nature of his character remains undisclosed.
Several key details remain unverified or missing from the current production updates. it is still unclear who the "corrupt corporate elites" are to whom Alexander Duggan owes debts, and the report does not specify if any remaining MI6 elements will pursue the assassin following the death of Bianca Pullman.
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