Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU) agent Jack Bauer returns tonight in the limited-run series 24: Live Another Day after a four year absence since 24’s eighth season finale in 2010.
The 12-episode series picks up four years after the series finale with Bauer, once again played by Kiefer Sutherland, living in exile after being perceived as a threat to the U.S. government.
“Through almost every season we have followed as a back story the president of the United States. In this 12-hour arc, we’ll be following the president of the United States and the prime minister of England, which will be a very interesting look into how those deals, or how we perceive those deals, to be done,” Sutherland stated. “Many times, what we perceive as some kind of treaty is involving things that we know nothing about. We’re examining that in the course of the show. So from every perspective — from visual to storytelling — it broadens the scope of the show. So for those reasons, I’m very, very excited.”
The rebooted series takes place in London, where Bauer is investigating a plot to assassinate President James Heller, played by William Devane. The series features additional stars from the original series, including Kim Raver as Audrey, Heller’s daughter and Jack’s former lover, and Mary Lynn Rajskub as Bauer’s sidekick Chloe who has become involved with a hacker group similar to WikiLeaks. There are also multiple new characters, including Benjamin Bratt as one of the heads of the CIA, Yvonne Strahovski as a CIA agent, and Tate Donovan as President Heller’s Chief of Staff who is also Audrey’s husband.
The 12-episode season may be half its usual length, but Rajskub states that it is “a little bit faster and a little more intense.” It will still take place within one day, however the series is now able to skip over some hours here and there. However, the first eight episodes take viewers through eight consecutive hours.
24: Live Another Day kicks off tonight with a two-hour premiere at 7pm CST on Fox.
