Fox’s ‘24’ May Return Without Jack Bauer

Fox is planning to bring back one of its most successful franchises, 24, but it may not include Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland).

CEO’s Dana Walden and Gary Newman announced at the 2015 Winter TCA Press Tour that the future of 24 is still in the works. “We have discussed it with him (Sutherland),” Walden said. “He’s a great creative partner, potentially he won’t be in this installment — we’re not sure yet. We’re not that far along, but I know he supports us doing more 24. We’re not talking about continuing the show without him; we’re talking about whether there’s one installment that he’s not in.”

According to Walden, producers Howard Gordon, Evan Katz and Manny Coto have pitched the network a season that might not include Sutherland.

“[The pitch] was in the very origin stages and it could have gone either way,” Walden said. “There was a point at which Jack Bauer could come in and fit very organically into their story or they were prepared to do something that would be the one installment without him.”

She continued, “We have discussed it with him. Potentially he won’t be in this installment. We’re not sure yet. We’re not that far along but I know he supports us doing more 24. We’re not talking about continuing the show without him, we’re talking about whether there’s one installment that he’s not in…I look at everyone that surrounded Kiefer in that last installment and I think it could work.”

Would you watch a season of 24 without Jack Bauer?