'The Day of the Jackal' starring Eddie Redmayne is Sky's most expensive series yet with actor raking in $1.3m per episode

'The Day of the Jackal' will earn Hollywood star Eddie Redmayne a cool £1million ($1.325million) per episode, as the 10-part drama becomes UK network Sky's most expensive series to date .

The budget for the drama is set at £100m ($132.6million) according to industry insiders, with Redmayne pocketing £10m ($13.26million) for his title role as the elusive Jackal, a lone wolf assassin who makes his living by carrying out hits - for huge fees.

The series, a modern reimagining of the iconic thriller written by Frederick Forsyth in 1971, is being made by Carnival Films, the production company behind Downton Abbey, now part of Universal International Studios. It was commissioned by Sky Studios, which will show the series across the UK and most of Europe, and streamer Peacock.

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One senior source said the role was one of the highest ever paid to a star - but was becoming the norm for dramas involving money from streamers such as Netflix, Apple or, in this case, Peacock. "Many TV companies and broadcasters are struggling with budgets being squeezed but not with high-end drama for a global audience involving the streamers," they said.

"If you can do a deal with one of them, you can absolutely break the bank."

In The Day of the Jackal Eton-educated Redmayne, best known for his roles in Fantastic Beasts, The Theory of Everything, will meet his match when his character comes up against Bond star Lashana Lynch as MI6 agent Bianca, reports the Mirror .

A movie based on Forsyth's novel, starring Edward Fox in the title role, was a huge hit when it was released in 1973.

Now fifty years on, the new version will be released by Sky Atlantic on November 7.

The series, shot on location in London, Budapest and across Croatia is described as a "thrilling cat-and-mouse chase" between the elusive assassin and a special agent.

Sky said: "The Jackal makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee.But following his latest kill, he meets his match in a tenacious British intelligence officer who starts to track him down in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe, leaving destruction in its wake."

The series also stars La Casa De Papel's Ursula Corbero, Game of Thrones' Charles Dance, Blue Lights' Richard Dormer and Chukwudi Iwuji from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

It has been adapted for the screen by Ronan Bennett, creator and writer of the hit TV series Top Boy, and directed by Game of Thrones and Luther director Brian Kirk.

Last night a spokesman for Universal Studios, Sky and Peacock declined to comment on Redmayne's pay or the overall budget.

However, one source said it was on a par with series like The Crown and The Morning Show, adding: "This is pretty normal now when you look at what the streaming giants are willing to pay for huge global dramas."

The biggest drama for Sky previously was Fortitude, which launched in 2015 with a budget of £30million ($39.8million) across the 11 episodes.