TV Line Jack Bauer is passing the stopwatch.

Fox is developing a 24 spinoff that would revolve around a new twentysomething male terrorist hunter, , franchise overlord Howard Gordon confirmed to TVLine Sunday at the Critics Choice Television Awards.

While there are no current plans for Kiefer Sutherland’s Jack to appear, it’s entirely possible his iconic character could pop in and out on a guest-star basis.

The project would find the new male antihero working alongside an older, more seasoned female agent (not Yvonne Strahovski’s Kate Morgan, although she also may also appear). It would also launch as a limited series, similar to last year’s acclaimed 24: Live Another Day, but I’m told the offshoot could easily become a long-term property for Fox.

24: LAD vets Manny Coto and Evan Katz will serve as writers and EPs.

Woah hold the phone, no Jack Bauer??

Alright alright let’s step back and assess. For years 24 season’s ended with Jack in a shitty situation only for it to be remedied within minutes of the following season. Maybe it’s time to explore that unknown before we run into 24 more hours with Jack. Let’s break down the knowns, first Jack is a prisoner of Russia.

A lot of clever ideas were tossed out there the summer after season 5. Jack was on a ship to China and everyone anticipated an exciting rescue scene. We never got that scene or the details of the trade that brought Jack back to the states and I think the writers can recycle that potential story here getting Jack out of Russia.

The trick is to cast this one correctly. They’ve tried to come up with “the next Jack Bauer” a few times before. Chase Edmunds was a convincing badass but just as her dad is the kiss of death to those around him, Kim’s boyfriends never had much longevity.  

Rick went to jail in season 1, Miguel lost a leg in season 2, and Chase lost a hand in season 3. Barry was a nutcase in season 5 but fortunatley for Kim she found a stable husband by season 7. The way they painted up Chase in season 3 he could have definitely be the next iteration of Jack Bauer but they screwed the pooch there.

Their next real attempt, sorry Curtis, was Cole Ortiz. Unfortunately he couldn’t sniff a mole right under his nose, had a terrible accent, and Freddie Prinze couldn’t stand Kiefer. Needless to say this was a miss. The 24 writers have bookended what they need out of a young terrorist hunter there is an easy way to take pressure off this character with the “seasoned female agent.”

BOOM. Throughout “Live Another Day” agent Kate Morgan exhibited all kinds of Bauerisms and let’s face it, was hands down the finest piece of eye candy in 24’s 9 season run. (Kim Bauer a close but super annoying second place).  You bring back Yvonne (she’s already said “never say never”) for that polished badass, don’t give a fuck role and we’re almost on our way to an awesome season. You spend the first 4-6 episodes with this team of Kate Morgan and the newb navigating a remote Russian location and finishing off years of investigating the where abouts of Jack Bauer.

Once Jack is found writers can use the fast forward device they waited eleven and three-quarter episodes for in 24 LAD. But once the trio is state side, what impending threat is going to get Jack Back into the action??

Tony got out of prison in the Live Another a Day Blu-Ray extra. Obviously the writers have something in mind and we know Carlos ain’t doing much other acting so this kind of familiar face can wrangle in more old viewers.

24 without Jack Bauer can work. Will it? Time will tell.

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