The Jackal’s Most Controversial Ruse: A Deep Dive Into The 'Gay Scene' Across All 3 Adaptations Of The Day Of The Jackal

The Day of the Jackal, Frederick Forsyth’s classic 1971 novel about a professional assassin hired to kill French President Charles de Gaulle, has been adapted for the screen multiple times, but one scene consistently sparks intense discussion and curiosity: the Jackal’s strategic "gay scene." As of late 2024, with the release of the new Sky/Peacock TV series starring Eddie Redmayne, this pivotal moment has been brought back into the spotlight, igniting fresh debate over its purpose, its execution, and what it reveals about the Jackal’s character. This analysis looks at how this controversial, yet crucial, plot point has evolved across the 1973 film, the 1997 remake, and the newest 2024 series.

The scene is not merely a sensational detail; it is a masterstroke of tradecraft. The Jackal, a chameleon of identities, uses a homosexual liaison to secure a safe house and a new identity, a method far less traceable than checking into a hotel where police would be looking for a "macho man." This tactical use of a vulnerable man for shelter and a new passport is a chilling demonstration of the assassin’s ruthless efficiency, regardless of his true sexual orientation.

The Day of the Jackal (1973): The Subtlety of Necessity

The original 1973 film, directed by Fred Zinnemann and starring Edward Fox as the Jackal, is revered for its procedural realism and chilling detachment. The "gay scene" in this adaptation is perhaps the most understated, yet historically significant, of the three. It occurs when the Jackal needs to shed his current disguise and acquire a new identity.

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Key Entities and Context of the 1973 Scene

• The Jackal: Edward Fox
• Director: Fred Zinnemann
• The Victim/Host: Caron, played by a young Derek Jacobi
• Setting: A sauna or bathhouse in Paris, a known cruising spot.
• The Ruse: The Jackal, under the guise of an Englishman, subtly encourages the advances of Caron, a lonely and trusting man.
• The Outcome: Caron offers the Jackal a place to stay, which the assassin accepts. The implication of a sexual encounter is present, but the film remains ambiguous, allowing the audience to question the Jackal’s true nature. The novel, however, explicitly states the Jackal refrained from any sexual act, maintaining his professional detachment.

The casting of Derek Jacobi, a renowned actor, in this small but pivotal role adds a layer of tragic irony. His character, Caron, represents the ultimate collateral damage of the Jackal’s mission—a kind, vulnerable man whose trust is brutally exploited. The scene's power lies in its quiet, cold-blooded transaction, highlighting the Jackal's total lack of empathy and his willingness to use any means necessary to achieve his goal. For a mainstream thriller in the early 1970s, the inclusion of an explicitly gay character, even one used as a plot device, was a notable, if problematic, inclusion.

The Jackal (1997): The Campy, Explicit Twist

The 1997 remake, simply titled *The Jackal*, takes significant liberties with the source material, modernizing the plot and changing the assassination target. The "gay scene" is also present, but it is handled with a more explicit and, for some critics, campy approach, reflecting late 90s thriller sensibilities.

Key Differences in the 1997 Scene

• The Jackal: Bruce Willis
• Director: Michael Caton-Jones
• The Ruse: Bruce Willis's Jackal, in a disguise that is arguably less convincing than Fox's, actively cruises a gay bar.
• The Outcome: The scene is more overtly sexual, with the Jackal engaging in a brief, cold interaction to secure the necessary safe haven. The lack of subtlety here makes the Jackal's manipulation less psychological and more purely transactional.
• Controversy: While the scene maintains the plot function of the original, its more graphic nature and the perceived caricature of the Jackal's disguise were points of contention. Bruce Willis’s portrayal of a "gay cruiser" was widely discussed, though it served the same purpose: to prove the Jackal’s willingness to cross any personal line for his mission.

The 1997 version simplifies the emotional complexity of the original. The host character is less developed, making the betrayal feel less personal and more like a standard thriller trope. It’s a scene designed to shock and propel the plot forward, rather than to explore the depths of the Jackal's sociopathy as the 1973 film did.

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The Day of the Jackal (2024): Modernizing the Betrayal

The newest adaptation, a television series that premiered in late 2024, offers the most current take on the classic story. Starring Eddie Redmayne as the Jackal, the series recontextualizes the assassin for the modern era, and the "gay scene" is one of the most dramatically expanded and emotionally charged moments of the entire show. This is where the topic gains its most recent and fresh relevance.

The 2024 Series: A Deep, Emotional Deception

• The Jackal: Eddie Redmayne
• The Host: Rasmus, played by Andreas Jessen
• Expanded Role: Unlike the brief scene in the films, the Jackal’s relationship with Rasmus is expanded over multiple episodes. Rasmus, a kind and lonely man, is completely charmed and taken in by the Jackal's fabricated persona.
• Explicit Action: The 2024 series is far more explicit, featuring a passionate kiss and the clear implication of a sexual relationship between the Jackal and Rasmus. This raises the stakes of the Jackal’s deception, suggesting a deeper level of emotional manipulation.
• The Betrayal: The Jackal's ultimate betrayal of Rasmus is drawn out and more brutal, serving as a major emotional turning point for the character and the audience. This expansion allows the series to explore the Jackal's ability to compartmentalize and weaponize intimacy, a chilling character trait that resonates with modern psychological thrillers.

The decision to show the Jackal engaging in an explicit hookup, rather than simply a ruse for accommodation, has led to significant online discussion. Some viewers see it as a necessary modernization that highlights the Jackal's extreme commitment to his mission—that he will use his body and his manufactured charm without hesitation. Others debate whether the Jackal is truly bisexual or simply a sociopath leveraging a vulnerable person's desire. The series leans heavily into the latter, using Rasmus's genuine affection to underscore the Jackal's cold-blooded nature.

The Topical Authority: Ruse or Revelation?

Across all three versions, the "gay scene" serves a triple purpose, cementing its status as a crucial literary and cinematic entity:

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1. Tradecraft and Invisibility: It establishes the Jackal as a master of disguise and evasion. By targeting a marginalized community (at the time of the novel and 1973 film), he finds a safe harbor where police are not actively looking. This speaks volumes about the societal context of the time.
2. Character Depravity: It is the ultimate test of the Jackal’s ruthlessness. He is not just killing a target; he is destroying the life of an innocent, trusting person for a few days of shelter and a new identity. This act of betrayal is often more shocking to the audience than the attempted assassination itself.
3. Sexual Ambiguity: The scene intentionally raises questions about the Jackal's sexuality. Is he bisexual, or is he so devoid of personal boundaries that sex is merely another tool? The 1973 film leaves it open, the 1997 film simplifies the transaction, and the 2024 series pushes the boundary, making the emotional manipulation the most devastating weapon.

In conclusion, the "gay scene" in *The Day of the Jackal* is far more than a shocking moment; it is a foundational pillar of the Jackal's character profile. From the subtle, devastating betrayal by Edward Fox's Jackal in 1973 to the deeply manipulative and explicit relationship with Rasmus in the 2024 series, the scene has consistently defined the assassin as a man for whom no line is sacred, making it one of the most enduringly controversial and fascinating plot points in thriller history.