Commercial Break: Fox Announces End of '24'
It would be a lie to say I am not sad about this even though I knew this day would come sooner or later.
Now it’s finally here. Last night Fox announced after weeks of speculation that ’24′ is indeed ending it’s 8 year run this season. No more CTU, no more Chloe, no more ‘Super Jack. ‘
News, finally confirmed by Fox, had been expected — Variety reported earlier this month that the network was ready to call it a day (Daily Variety, March 9). Sutherland, exec producer Howard Gordon and the studio were also leaning toward ending the show’s run as well.
“For us, creatively, it seemed like the right time to do it,” Sutherland told Variety. “It’s very bittersweet. ’24′ was the greatest learning experience of my career so far. And on a personal level, working with this cast and crew and writers, these will be friends of mine for the rest of my life.” Variety
Kiefer Sutherland aka Jack Bauer and the writers of ’24′ rejuvenated prime-time drama and brought Fox back into play with the other top networks. It was unlike anything seen on tv; a show whose seasons follow the life of the hardest working civilian government employee EVER, while keeping it all in 60 minutes of real time each week. I have been a faithful viewer since it first aired in 2001, I don’t know what I will do with my Monday nights. Regardless, show producer Howard Gordan are pushing for a ’24′ movie.
Both Sutherland and Gordon said they’re bullish now on moving Jack Bauer to the big screen, and compressing a 24-hour day — yes, the entire movie’s action will still take place in just one day — over the course of just two hours.
“The opportunity to make a movie and do a two-hour representation was something appealing to he and I both,” Sutherland said.
As Variety reported in February, scribe Billy Ray (“State of Play”) is busy writing a screenplay; Gordon will produce.
“For the first time, we’ll be able to go from England to Russia, or China to Japan, depending on where they choose to set it,” Sutherland said. “Before on the TV show, the crisis had to come to us. The best we could do it was get across town… It alleviates a huge hurdle that real-time writing presented.”
Jack Bauer chasing terrorists around the world? Yes and Yes.
The final episode of ’24′ is set to air Monday ay 24th in a 2 hour series final.
