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Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch Explore the Intrigue of “The Day of the Jackal”
Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch are set to captivate audiences with their latest venture “The Day of the Jackal,” a series that centers around an elusive assassin and his formidable opponent, a determined British intelligence officer.
In a conversation with “Extra’s” Mona Kosar Abdi, the actors shared their excitement about filming on location throughout Europe.
Lashana discussed their lengthy shoot, stating, “We spent eight months in Budapest, which was home to much of our set work. We also filmed in and around Budapest, with additional scenes shot in London and Croatia, standing in for Afghanistan.”
Eddie added, “The essence of the show lies in its exploration of Europe as a vibrant playground. We visited several stunning locales, including Vienna, Budapest, and beautiful spots along the Dalmatian Coast. One memorable moment was filming in London when they took a helicopter at dawn to capture the city emerging from the mist over the Thames. It offers a fresh perspective on London that audiences have yet to see.”
Jokingly, Eddie reflected on his previous admiration for “White Lotus,” saying, “I used to wonder why I never got to travel to such exotic places for work. I feel like I manifested ‘The Day of the Jackal’ out of that desire, and the experience was truly beautiful.”
This new series acts as a contemporary adaptation of the original novel and the classic 1973 film, with Eddie contemplating the challenges of meeting fan expectations. He noted, “When I portrayed Stephen Hawking, I felt a great deal of pressure because people would evaluate my performance against his real-life persona. Similarly, with ‘Fantastic Beasts,’ I felt the weight of the ‘Harry Potter’ legacy. I’ve come to realize that each new role brings its own set of challenges.”
Redmayne expressed his long-standing appreciation for the source material, “I cherished the original movie and the book. My family had a well-worn VHS copy that we loved. I am drawn to thrillers that involve a cat-and-mouse dynamic, and I find the theatrical aspect of such stories deeply engaging. As a child, I was fascinated by the Jackal’s disguises; in a way, he is also an actor.”
He further elaborated, “What I find appealing about this series is that it retains the core elements of the original while being crafted by people who honor both the Forsyth book and the Fox film. Yet, it feels timely and relevant, making it a compelling project for me.”
Both actors also discussed the significant challenges they confronted during production.
Eddie recounted a particularly challenging scene where he needed to portray a German character, stating, “I don’t speak German, so I learned the lines phonetically by imitating the sounds. The character was also supposed to be a lifelong chain smoker.”
He humorously remarked that after donning the character’s look, his voice resembled that of “a chirpy 10-year-old,” which added a layer of complexity to mastering the character’s persona. “In just one day, I had to find a way to embody this chain-smoking German.”
For Lashana, her greatest challenge came with the physical demands of her role. She admitted, “After ‘The Woman King,’ I promised I wouldn’t take on any more stunts for a while. The physical toll is significant, and it requires a mental shift to take on such demanding roles.”
However, she felt that her character Bianca was too enticing to overlook. She explained, “When considering the stunts, I found myself in a dilemma over how much to take on. My body knows how to execute these stunts, thanks to muscle memory. But I also have immense respect for the stunt industry and wanted to let the professionals shine.”
Lashana reflected on how to honor Bianca as a realistic character while balancing her own physical well-being. “I grappled with the idea of giving Bianca the thrilling action she deserves while also protecting myself,” she said, acknowledging the challenges of merging both perspectives effectively.
Mark your calendars: “The Day of the Jackal” is set to premiere on November 7 on Peacock.
Source
extratv.com