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As the 2026 production season hits its stride, Budapest’s status as a versatile European backlot is being reinforced by the return of one of last year’s most successful television exports. Cameras are officially rolling on the second season of the Sky and Peacock thriller The Day of the Jackal, with lead Eddie Redmayne recently spotted filming on location in the city’s historic 8th District.
The production has established a significant footprint around Rákóczi Square, where the local landmark Csiga Café has been meticulously transformed into the “Baroneasa,” a fictional setting that serves as a focal point for the show’s latest chapter. The area is currently outfitted with Moldovan campaign posters and Romanian-language political signage, effectively doubling the Hungarian capital for Chișinău. This elaborate set dressing has created a surreal intersection with reality, as the fictional props appear alongside genuine materials for Hungary’s upcoming parliamentary elections on April 12.
Building on a Proven Foundation
The decision to return to the region follows the success of the debut season, which was lauded for its atmospheric use of local landmarks. Our previous analysis of the production’s debut explored how the series integrated the city’s gritty, analog textures into its narrative. This new installment appears to be a direct evolution of that aesthetic, overseen by new showrunner David Harrower (Lockerbie) and featuring the addition of Pablo Schreiber to the ensemble.
Season 2 is expected to pick up the threads of the Jackal’s increasingly precarious personal life. Following the dramatic conclusion of the first season, the plot centers on the Jackal’s primary mission: locating his wife, Nuria, and their son after they fled his double life. This domestic hunt is set against a backdrop of “unfinished business” involving the billionaire Timothy Winthrop, suggesting a narrative that balances intimate character stakes with international espionage. Executive Producer Gareth Neame recently emphasized the drive for a return that feels both familiar and elevated, telling Collider that the team wants to keep the show “as surprising and edgy and twisty and turning as it’s been so far.” This commitment to quality is evident in the technical scale of the current shoot, with Redmayne returning to a role that involves rigorous prosthetic work and physical intensity during the warmer filming months in the region.
Mapping the Jackal’s Moldovan Double
For those tracking the production’s progress, Csiga Café’s social channels have offered a glimpse into the “Baroneasa” conversion, documenting the temporary shift in the neighborhood’s identity. Furthermore, reporting from Hungary Today has highlighted Redmayne’s presence between takes alongside the intricate details of the Moldovan election props currently populating the square, providing a closer look at the artisanal level of the production’s art department.
For the international industry, the project serves as a clear indicator of the region’s enduring utility. Beyond the competitive 30% tax rebate, the ability to provide a diverse range of convincing European “doubles” remains a primary draw for major outfits like Carnival Films and Universal International Studios. As the Jackal’s hunt continues, the production’s reliance on these locations underscores a broader trend of high-end series seeking long-term stability in established European hubs with world-class studio facilities.
