‘Army of Shadows’: ‘The Day of the Jackal’ Creator to Remake Underrated WWII Movie!!

Ronan Bennett has been on a roll for the past few years after being attached to some of the biggest shows on streaming platforms. From Top Boy on Netflix to The Day of the Jackal on Peacock and MobLand on Paramount+, these shows have been huge successes. A new report reveals that for his next TV project, Bennett is remaking the 1969 war movie Army of Shadows, but with a twist. Instead of following the French resistance during World War II, as depicted in the movie, the events will focus on resistance in near-future authoritarian Britain. The show is being made for French streaming platform Canal+ and British broadcaster Channel 4. No plans for an American streaming platform have been revealed yet.

Army of Shadows will be loosely based on Jean-Pierre Melville’s movie, based on the 1943 book of the same name by Joseph Kessel. The estates of Melville and Kessel have thrown their support behind the project. In Bennett‘s take on the events, Army of Shadows is set in a near-future Britain that has been overrun by authoritarianism. America has become an occupying force, but a resistance is building, led by a former British Army officer. The task is not easy, as it’s marred by betrayal and moral quandaries as young recruits fight to liberate their country and themselves. The six-episode season follows these attempts as the resistance makes mistakes, learns, adapts, and forges ahead.

What’s the Status of Other Ronan Bennett Shows?

Top Boy ran for five seasons on Netflix and wrapped up in 2023. The Day of the Jackal was a breakout hit in 2024. The show was well-received by critics and viewers alike, with a fresh rating of 85% on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. A second season was ordered, but it has yet to begin production. “I’ve just seen the first script [for Season 2], and what I love is that it’s staying true to the character, but the ambition seems to have inflated. The second I read it, I thought, ‘When can we start?’” series star Eddie Redmayne said in a recent interview. Meanwhile, MobLand has also been renewed for a second season, which is yet to begin production. Like The Day of the Jackal, Mobland was well-received with a 76% score on Rotten Tomatoes. It is the second-most-watched Paramount+ original series.