Jack Bauer might be gracing TV screens again, according to reports. A prequel series is reportedly in development for the hit espionage thriller, which won a number of Emmy trophies while it was still on air.
Citing sources, The Hollywood Reporter claims that there will be an ongoing prequel series that will delve into the origin story of how Jack Bauer became who he is.
Fox Might Be Making A Prequel Series To '24'
Original series creators Joel Surnow and Bob Cochran are said to be sharing ideas for the character originally played by Kiefer Sutherland, according to the report. Executive producer Howard Gordon is allegedly attached to the project and is working with Surnow and Cochran on the notional show as well.
The creators are co-writing a script for what sources say could be an ongoing series instead of a limited affair, unlike most recent incarnations in the franchise, 24: Live Another Day and 24: Legacy. It remains uncertain when the prequel series airs, though there are rumors suggesting Fox could premiere it for midseason. Just note that casting apparently hasn't even begun yet, so the project seems to be still in its early stages.
The most recent 24 installment was the aforementioned 24: Legacy, which aired after last year's Super Bowl. Initial ratings were stellar but dipped down leading up to the finale, bowing with just 6.3 million viewers. Fox promptly canceled the series following less-than-stellar numbers but said at the time that it was talking to producers, including Gordon and Brian Grazer, about a new "anthological" take on the whole franchise.
Two months later, producers and executives said the network and the studio were in early discussion about an idea that was "very compelling." The goal was apparently to keep the "ticking clock" aspect that made the original show a hit with viewers and apply it to something else.
24
24 is one of Fox's most prized franchises, having run for eight seasons and sparking political discourse along the way. It was later being revived with original star Sutherland for the aforementioned 24: Live Another Day. 24: Legacy followed shortly thereafter, but it focused on a different character and told a different story entirely. Sutherland didn't appear in that project but served as an executive producer.
Would you like a prequel series to 24? Do you think Jack Bauer's origin story should be explored, or is mystery one of his biggest appeals as a character? As always, if you have anything to share, feel free to sound them off in the comments section below!
