Peacock’s The Day of the Jackal Season 2 Taps Emmy Nominee as Its New Big Bad

If you thought Eddie Redmayne’s assassin saga on Peacock was intense, buckle up for season 2 — because 'The Day of the Jackal' is dropping a new villain on us, and honestly, it’s a surprisingly great casting move.

Matt Bomer Goes Full Bad Guy

So here’s the big news: Matt Bomer, who’s probably still best known as Neal Caffrey from White Collar (the show that made con artistry look cool as hell), is joining the next season as the main villain. This isn’t some blink-and-you-miss-it cameo — Bomer’s a Golden Globe winner and a two-time Emmy nominee who’s been in everything from Fellow Travelers to Magic Mike. Now, he’s coming for Redmayne’s Jackal, which should make for excellent TV. Frankly, Bomer’s too charismatic to play your garden-variety bad guy, so expect fireworks on screen.

There are a couple of other fresh faces: Weruche Opia and Pablo Schreiber are also signed on as series regulars for season 2. If you’ve watched I May Destroy You or American Gods, you already know they’re both heavy hitters.

Quick Recap: What’s the Show About Again?

If you’re new: The Day of the Jackal is adapted from Frederick Forsyth’s classic thriller novel (which also got a movie in 1973 — legit old-school stuff). This time, Eddie Redmayne is pulling the strings as the Jackal, a sort of ultra-elite contract assassin who only works for top dollar and never seems to put a foot wrong. And yes, Redmayne’s involved behind the scenes too, not just on camera.

How Did Season 1 Do?

Pretty well, actually. The show dropped in 2024 and immediately became one of Peacock’s biggest streaming dramas — Top 5, per Nielsen — and in the UK, it apparently scored 4.6 million viewers in under a month. That made it the strongest debut for a new Sky series. The critics liked it, the Golden Globes and SAG took notice, and viewers didn’t bail out after a couple episodes, which is rare for high-concept thrillers like this.

Who’s Pulling the Strings?

• Eddie Redmayne — not just starring, but executive producing too
• Gareth Neame, Nigel Marchant, Marianne Buckland — executive producers
• David Harrower (writing duties)
• Brian Kirk (the director steering the ship)
• Sam Hoyle, Sue Naegle, Ronan Bennett — executive producers as well
• Lis Steele is the main producer

What’s Next?

No release date yet for season 2, so don’t bother clicking ‘remind me’ just yet. Production is underway in Budapest, which probably means we won’t see new episodes until late 2024 (if I had to guess). For now, you’ll have to settle for speculation, behind-the-scenes tidbits, and, if you’re so inclined, Bomer’s entire back catalogue as a refresher. Stay tuned — this is one thriller that’s not slowing down.

'The Day of the Jackal season 2 is pushing the stakes higher, and with Bomer on board, we’re getting a villain who can match Redmayne’s Jackal in charm and danger. Should be a fun watch.'