A 24 prequel could be coming in the near future on Fox. Several reports are stating that the minds behind the hit show are discussing releasing a new version of the series.
However, maybe it’s time to just let the Kiefer Sutherland vehicle ride off into the sunset?
Sutherland starred as Jack Bauer on the show from 2001 to 2010 and even returned later in a TV miniseries in 2014.
Called 24: Live Another Day, it actually breathed some new life into the franchise and stirred up interest with the fans again.
24 was definitely a huge hit for Fox, which is why they then tried to spin it off with a new main character. Corey Hawkins stepped into the lead acting role, taking on the mantle in 24: Legacy, which did not return impressive ratings for the network. Instead, it just about killed off the franchise.
Hawkins was let out of his contract, but there were additional thoughts that the show could return at some point.
’24’ prequel eyed as potential series at Fox https://t.co/jbXbZH9PoY
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) July 31, 2018
As Entertainment Weekly reported, series creators Joel Surnow and Bob Cochran are working with franchise executive producer Howard Gordon to figure out some new stories.
Jack Bauer is still an iconic television character, even though Kiefer Sutherland hasn’t been in the role for a while. With a 24 prequel, Fox could show how he came to work for CTU and what took place earlier in his career.
There is the potential that with strong writing and the right cast, a 24 prequel series could work well for Fox. At the same time, there is a high likelihood that it would take away from how good the original 24 was.
24: Legacy already took a chunk out of the nostalgia for the show, and a 24 prequel might damage it even further. Might it be time to just retire the franchise, rather than force new Jack Bauer stories on the audience?
24 ran from 2001 to 2010 on Fox. 24: Live Another Day aired in summer 2014. 24: Legacy appeared during the 2016-17 television season.