‘24’ Movie in the Works: “The World Needs Jack Bauer”

Last year, there were reports that a film adaptation of the iconic television series “24” was in early development at 20th Century Studios.

Now, nearly a year later, Imagine Entertainment President Justin Wilkes is confirming that “the time is right” for a return of “24,” essentially validating what was initially suspected. His reasoning?

“If you look at Russia, Ukraine and just the theater of Europe right now, the world needs Jack Bauer,” Wilkes says.

The main reason it has taken more than a decade to get this movie off the ground has to do with what producer Brian Grazer once called “financial reasons.” The primary obstacle to a “24” movie after Season 8 ended was cost — it was always going to be expensive. Quite honestly, if they truly want to revive “24,” then they should premiere it on a streamer — Disney+, Netflix, or Prime.

“24,” created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran for Fox, originally aired for nine seasons, from 2001 to 2014, and even spawned a 2008 TV film, “Redemption.” The series starred Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer, an agent with the U.S. government’s fictional Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU), with each season unfolding over 24 hours in real time.

Over its run, the show earned 68 Emmy nominations and won 20 awards, including outstanding drama series and a lead actor Emmy for Sutherland in 2006.

For now, no plot details have been released, and it’s unclear whether Kiefer Sutherland, 58, will return for the new film. 20th Century declined to comment.