Adapting the 1971 Frederick Forsyth novel of the same name, Fred Zinnemann's 1973 thriller The Day of the Jackal follows a far-right plot to assassinate French president Charles de Gaulle in 1963, utilizing an assassin who goes by the codename "the Jackal." The book is based on a real-life assassination attempt, albeit the details and hunt are fictionalized. The story has inspired a new series at Peacock, taking a page from the generalities of the original narrative but updated for the present. This iteration is an elegantly crafted thriller that utilizes tight plotting and strong character work to modernize a classic for our contemporary world.