A new update for The Day of the Jackal season 2’s production makes it hard not to be even more excited about the Eddie Redmayne show’s return.

Based on the Frederick Forsyth novel and 1973 film of the same name, The Day of the Jackal is a compelling spy thriller series that earned rave reviews after its premiere in November 2024. The show not only garnered critical acclaim but performed well enough on streaming to be renewed for another installment.

Since its next installment is still seemingly in the early stages of production, it would be too soon to draw any predictions about it. However, an interesting update about one change in the series potentially makes it significantly more promising in more ways than one.

David Harrower Has Stepped In As The Day Of The Jackal’s New Writer

A new production update for The Day of the Jackal (via Variety) has revealed that David Harrower is taking over as the show’s new writer, while the original showrunner Ronan Bennett is stepping back. Although Ronan Bennett will still be The Day of the Jackal season 2‘s executive producer, his previous writing responsibilities will be taken by Harrower.

Given how Ronan Bennett’s creative vision and storytelling significantly contributed to The Day of the Jackal season 1’s critical and commercial success, it may be hard not to be a little skeptical about the Eddie Redmayne spy thriller‘s season 2 after the new development. However, David Harrower, too, has an impressive track record as a writer, which spells a promising future for the series.

Harrower’s Writing Could Further Elevate Day Of The Jackal’s Thrilling Action & Drama

When it comes to television, Harrower seems to have a limited line of work, which includes Outlaw King, Lockerbie: A Search for Truth, and Una. None of his previous shows has been as massive as The Day of the Jackal in scale and global recognition. However, when it comes to experience as a playwright, Harrower is no stranger to crafting brilliant and tense narratives about morally complex characters.

Harrower’s work in plays like Blackbird and Knives in Hens is known for capturing psychological realism with tightly packed storytelling and frequent use of impactful, evocative dialogue. If he implements the same writing tenets in The Day of the Jackal, the Eddie Redmayne show‘s upcoming installment could be even more psychologically rich and engaging.

Harrower taking over as The Day of the Jackal‘s writer could significantly change the overarching tone and structure of the series. This, in turn, could risk alienating viewers who really enjoyed how the show’s season 1 unfolded. However, from the looks of it, Harrower’s involvement will do more good than harm and further elevate the Eddie Redmayne show.