Eddie Redmayne reveals why he was 'tentative' to accept Day Of The Jackal role as he lifts the lid on starring in the adaptation with co-star Lashana Lynch

Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch have lifted the lid on starring in and getting involved with the production side of thriller series, The Day of the Jackal.

The actor, 42, and actress, 36, who star as Jackal and Bianca in the cat-and-mouse style show, opened up to Radio Times about stepping into the roles and how this updated version of the story compares to the original.

The upcoming political thriller follows the 1973 film of the same name as the second English-language adaptation of the 1971 book of the same name.

Reimagined into a contemporary political setting, The Day Of The Jackal (2024) centres around an unrivalled and highly elusive lone assassin, the Jackal who makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee.

However, the Jackal meets his match in a tenacious British intelligence officer who starts to track him down in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe, leaving destruction in its wake.

Also starring are Guardians Of The Galaxy's Chukwudi Iwuji, Game Of Thrones' Charles Dance, and Money Heist's Ursula Corbero.

Eddie told the publication: 'When I saw this in my inbox, I was pretty… You don't want to mess with something as brilliant as this, so I was a bit tentative.

'The thing I love about the original structure, which Ronan has managed to retain, is the odd idea that you have these two protagonists who are deeply morally compromised, making vicious choices and yet you kind of warm to both of them.'

He added that this new version makes it harder to work out who you should root for as the morality is 'grey'.

'We all have that blurry territory within us in some ways – that idea of the binary of good and evil doesn't exist so much,' he explained.

Meanwhile, Lashana admitted that when she was approached about taking on the role of Bianca, she asked to be involved with the production side of things too.

The actress said she wanted to: 'Protect the things that I knew I really wanted to discuss within the piece.' 

When the interviewer suggested that due to her character's race and gender, Bianca may feel she has something more to prove, the star revealed that that was another driving force behind wanting to be a co-executive producer.

'To be able to tell that story, not shy away from it,' she elaborated, 'but also protect it enough so that we're not singing from the rooftops about how hard that is. 

It's literally just a part of the experience of people who look like me, and it's in the fabric of the workplace, constantly.'

The new interview comes just after Eddie revealed that he 'barely' saw his co-star Lashana on set, despite the pair taking centre stage in their thrilling new series.

Eddie revealed that promoting the series has been the most 'fun' part as the pair finally get to 'hang out and spend time together'.

Revealing that they barely saw each other during filming, Eddie said: 'Even though Lashana and I are in it (the series) we barely got to see each other while we were making it.'

'Because it was kind of a cat and mouse story and we're kept apart for a huge amount of it.'

He confessed: 'So, the promoting (side) has been the fun bit because we got to hang out and spend time together.'

Lashana agreed with Eddie's statement by saying: 'It really is, being producers on the show as well, we've had a year of chatting about every nook and cranny of the show,'

'We've seen everything, every edit and every juncture of this process, and it's just been really lovely getting to know each other in that way.'

Eddie also revealed to the radio host why he decided to take part in the new series which is a modern version of the original movie and book.

Revealing he was hesitant to star in it at first, Eddie said: 'I kind of loved the original movie and the book growing up,'

'So, when the scripts arrived in my inbox there was a massive amount of trepidation because you don't want to butcher something that you love.'

Confessing that he changed his mind once he saw the script, he added: '(The script) had basically been updated to now, and the scripts were just so propulsive and it felt completely fresh and new.'

'But it retained the DNA of what was so wonderful in the original, this kind of cat and mouse quality, and the fact that Jackal is basically a chameleon who shapeshifts, you never quite (know) what you're gonna get.'

Frederick Forsyth's story will be told by Sky and Peacock in 10 parts.

It was adapted for the small screen by Ronan Bennett, the creator and writer of the critically acclaimed English crime drama Top Boy.

The Day Of The Jackal was directed by Brian Kirk whose credits include Game Of Thrones and Luther.

The series is produced by Carnival Films, which is part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group.

Eddie serves as an executive producer, Lashana as a co-executive producer, and author Frederick as the consulting producer.

The Day of the Jackal premieres on Sky Atlantic and NOW on November 7.