Day of The Jackal FIRST LOOK: Eddie Redmayne is every inch the suave assassin while filming Sky’s ‘modern reimagining’ of the thriller in Croatia

Eddie Redmayne was seen for the first time on the set of Sky’s  new TV adaption of The Day of The Jackal in Croatia on Monday.

The British actor, 41, cut a suave figure as he shot scenes as assassin known as the Jackal, originally played by Edward Fox in the classic 1973 film. 

Eddie was dressed all in black and teamed a sweater with smart trousers for the shoot which took place in a busy market.

The Oscar winner could be seen chatting to the crew before jumping behind the wheel of a swanky sports car for a complex action scene. 

Originally a novel by Frederick Forsyth the story follows the story of the trained killer who is hired to assassinate French president Charles de Gaulle.

Action! Eddie Redmayne, 41, was seen for the first time on the set of Sky’s new TV adaption of The Day of The Jackal in Croatia on Monday

On set: The British actor cut a suave figure as he shot scenes as assassin known as the Jackal, originally played by Edward Fox in the classic 1973 film

According to the Hollywood Reporter the producers, of which Eddie is one, have described the adaption as a ‘bold, modern reimagining of the beloved and respected novel and film.’ 

And while the series, written by Top Boy creator Ronan Bennett, will pay homage to the original it will be set in the world modern world of geo-politics.

Producer Gareth Neame said: “We are excited to bring to life Ronan Bennett’s re-imagining of Forsyth’s revered thriller in the complex world in which we live today and are incredibly fortunate to have an actor of Eddie’s calibre as our Jackal’.

It comes after Eddie  credited his parents for his successful career in a rare candid interview.

The actor said it was his father, Richard, a banker, and mother Patricia, who ran a relocation company, and their willingness to allow him to pursue  his interest in acting at an early age that allowed him to flourish in his career.

‘I loved music and singing and acting at school,’ the Fantastic Beast franchise star told Today’s Willie Geist in an interview. ‘To my parents’ credit, which now as a parent myself I really do hold high, anything I had an interest in or my brothers had an interest in, they supported.’ 

The future star attended the Jackie Palmer Studios Stage School in London where his classmates including James Corden, Jamie Dornan and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. 

The father of two shares Iris, seven and Luke, five, with his wife of nine years, Hannah Bagshawe.

Character: The producers, of which Eddie is one, have described the adaption as a ‘bold, modern reimagining of the beloved and respected novel and film.’

Busy: The Oscar winner could be seen chatting to the crew before jumping behind the wheel of a swanky sports car for a complex action scene

Busy: The Oscar winner could be seen chatting to the crew before jumping behind the wheel of a swanky sports car for a complex action scene

Classic: Originally a novel by Frederick Forsyth the story follows the story of the trained killer who is hired to is hired to assassinate French president Charles de Gaulle (edward Fox pictued in the 1973 movie version) 

Eddie, who won the Academy Award for his portrayal of the late physicist Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything.

In addition to the Oscar, Eddie won a Tony in 2010 for his work in Red and will soon return in a production of Cabaret after starring as Emcee in the musical in London’s West End. 

Still most fans know him for his role as Newt Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts films. He’s starred in three of the magical adventures, but said he isn’t sure when or if a fourth is in the works.

 Speaking to Indiewire the actor explained, ‘It’s more a question for J. K. Rowling and David Yates and Warners, but I don’t know, I’m afraid. I can’t add to that, adding, ‘I love playing Newt, he’s a sweet man.

Filming: After jumping behind the wheel a special film truck followed him along the street