The Day of the Jackal was an enormous streaming hit for Peacock, and now one other of creator Frederick Forsyth’s bestselling conspiracy thriller books is getting a TV adaptation.
Zero Gravity and Romulus Movies are teaming up for The Odessa File, primarily based on Forsyth’s 1972 novel a few reporter making an attempt to trace down a former SS concentration-camp commandant (through Deadline). Simon Fellows is writing the script.
The Odessa File was first tailored by Romulus right into a function movie again in 1974, however Fellows says his model will not be a remake. His contemporary tackle the fabric will probably be a genre-bending story combining components of “interval, conspiracy, thriller, motion, and a contact of the revenge Western.”
Fellows describes the story as a “Sixties autobahn-fueled highway film to catch a monster.”
An announcement from Zero Gravity emphasised the continuing relevance of Forsyth’s 53-year-old story:
“Frederick Forsyth’s work has confirmed again and again to be extremely prescient and adaptable to modern audiences. Following Common’s current success with The Day of the Jackal, we’re thrilled to be working with Romulus in bringing this new adaptation of “The Odessa File” to audiences.”
Romulus Movies added their very own assertion expressing pleasure at working with Fellows, together with Zero Gravity’s Leon Clarance:
“We’re more than happy to be working alongside Leon, Simon and the workforce at Zero Gravity to carry The Odessa File to new audiences. Romulus has a protracted historical past of manufacturing profitable movement footage primarily based on Forsyth’s works and we’re excited to see this venture shifting forward.”
1974’s The Odessa File starred Jon Voight as Peter Miller, a reporter who embarks on an investigation of a secret group set as much as shield former SS members. Directed by Ronald Neame and scored by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the movie acquired lukewarm opinions, and at present sits at 67% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Odessa File launched a yr after 1973’s Day of the Jackal grew to become an enormous essential and field workplace success for Romulus, occurring to attain seven BAFTA nominations. The latest adaptation of Forsyth’s Jackal was produced for TV and premiered in 2024, starring Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch.
The Odessa File’s poor field workplace efficiency precipitated Romulus to close down its function movie operations, however the model was revived in 1999 to provide the supernatural thriller Revelation.
The Day of the Jackal season 2 is at present within the works, with Redmayne returning because the titular Jackal.
Different movie variations of Forsyth books embody 1987’s The Fourth Protocol, a spy movie starring Michael Caine and a pre-007 Pierce Brosnan, and 1980’s The Canine of Warfare, an motion film starring Christopher Walken and Tom Berenger.
Forsyth’s Icon was made right into a 2005 Hallmark Channel film starring Patrick Swayze. His guide Avenger was made right into a 2006 TNT film starring Sam Elliott.
Along with the unique 1973 film and 2024 TV sequence, Forsyth’s The Day of the Jackal received one other adaptation in 1997, however Bruce Willis’ The Jackal proved to be a essential and field workplace flop.