The gripping action of Prime Video’s “Reacher“ has roots in a classic thriller that changed the genre forever. The connection goes back to the very beginning, as Lee Child, the creator of Jack Reacher, was directly inspired by Frederick Forsyth’s groundbreaking 1971 novel, “The Day of the Jackal.”
How a Classic Novel Shaped a Modern Hero
Lee Child has openly discussed the massive impact Frederick Forsyth’s book had on his approach to writing. In a recent interview, he called “The Day of the Jackal” a “year-zero, game-changing thriller” and described it as “a masterclass in how to break every rule and make it work.”
Before Forsyth’s novel, thrillers often built suspense around a simple question: will the hero succeed? Forsyth flipped this formula. His story follows an anonymous assassin hired to kill French President Charles de Gaulle. Since history records that de Gaulle was not assassinated, readers already know the outcome. The genius of the book is that the suspense comes not from if the Jackal will succeed, but from how he plans to pull it off.
Child explained this shift, noting that Forsyth “showed us that the how question was as powerful as the who, why, where, and when.” This insight became a cornerstone for the Jack Reacher series. Like the Jackal, Reacher is often a mysterious figure who enters a new town or situation. The tension for readers comes from watching his methodical process as he works to solve a problem or defeat an enemy.
A New Adaptation Brings the Story to a New Generation
The enduring power of Forsyth’s story is clear with a new television adaptation on Peacock. This series, which stars Eddie Redmayne as the chillingly efficient Jackal, has earned an 85% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and become a streaming hit. The show modernizes the plot, with the Jackal targeting a billionaire, but it keeps the core cat-and-mouse chase between the assassin and the authorities.
Collider’s review highlighted the series’ strong points, calling it “simple but elegantly crafted, well cast, and capably structured to keep tension, backed by strong performances.” It is a good, highly watchable thriller series that will keep viewers engaged throughout its main characters’ tit-for-tat pursuit.
Raising the Bar for Every Thriller Writer
The influence of “The Day of the Jackal” extended far beyond a single author. Lee Child believes that Forsyth’s intensely researched, detail-oriented style created a new standard that all subsequent thriller writers had to meet.
“He put a huge millstone on the shoulders of other thriller writers,” Child stated. “We all had to perform to that same level.”
This demand for realistic detail, showing the “how” in a believable way, paved the way for bestsellers from authors like Tom Clancy and shaped the expectations of readers worldwide. Child himself adopted this principle, ensuring that the details of Reacher’s military background and his methods felt authentic and accurate.
A Lasting Legacy on Screen and Page
The legacy of this inspiration is now visible across streaming services. While the stoic Jack Reacher solves crimes on Prime Video, the cunning Jackal is played by Eddie Redmayne on Peacock. Both characters are masters of their craft, and both exist in a thriller landscape that was fundamentally shaped by Forsyth’s original novel over fifty years ago.
Also Read: Reacher Author Lee Child Sounds Like His Famous Character
