Kiefer Sutherland’s iconic action-thriller series 24 celebrated its 20th-anniversary last year, but there have been numerous attempts at bringing the series back in some form for years. Kiefer Sutherland last played the role of counter-terrorism agent Jack Bauer in 24: Live Another Day back in 2014, but he told GQ that he’s still leaving the door open for a possible return.
I miss it. It was an incredible experience. I have learned that you’re just better off not to be definitive about your answer of whether you will do something or not do something. I love playing that character. I do believe the story is unresolved. If something were to be written that made sense to me and that I thought was going to contribute to the franchise then I would be behind it, even if my participation in that would be limited.
Kiefer Sutherland added that his involvement in any potential 24 projects would “always be predicated on what I perceive is the quality of the writing. If [original showrunner] Howard Gordon is motivated to do it, we’ll see what happens.” Sutherland mentioned that the story of Jack Bauer is unresolved, and he’s certainly not wrong. 24: Live Another Day found Bauer giving himself up to Russian operatives, which has left the character’s fate up in the air.
The last 24 project was 24: Legacy, a spinoff series starring Corey Hawkins that only lasted a single season. The studio once developed a 24 prequel that would have explored just how Jack Bauer became Jack Bauer. There was also another project that would have shifted the focus away from counter-terrorism and towards criminal justice. The concept would have used the real-time format but followed a female prosecutor who “uncovers a legal conspiracy and has to work against the clock to save a death row inmate facing imminent execution whom she had helped prosecute but may be innocent.” An anthology series was also considered, but none of the projects moved forward. Would you like to see Kiefer Sutherland return as Jack Bauer for a 24 revival or is the series better left alone?
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