In a strategic move to capitalize on the success of prestige streaming dramas, NBC is bringing the Golden Globe-nominated The Day of the Jackal to network television. The premiere episode will air Monday, December 30, 2024, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, offering a wider audience the chance to experience the gripping cat-and-mouse thriller starring Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch.
The Day of the Jackal has already made a significant impact on streaming platforms Peacock and Sky. The series topped Peacock’s charts, landing at #1 on the platform’s Top 10 TV Shows and securing a spot in the Top 5 streaming original dramas during its opening weekend, according to Nielsen data. Across the Atlantic, it achieved record-breaking success for Sky, attracting a substantial 4.5 million viewers for its debut episode.
The series, which tracks a deadly assassin (Redmayne) pursued relentlessly across Europe by a British intelligence officer (Lynch), has garnered critical acclaim, earning praise from outlets like The Wall Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times. This buzz translated into awards recognition, with nominations for both Golden Globe and Critics Choice awards.
With a second season already greenlit for Peacock and Sky, NBC’s broadcast debut of the first episode aims to introduce the series to a broader viewership and perhaps entice network audiences to explore the full series on streaming. The network’s gamble on The Day of the Jackal raises the question: can the nuanced storytelling of a critically acclaimed streaming hit translate to success in the traditional network landscape? The December 30 premiere may well provide the answer.
