Jack Bauer may soon be battling the forces of evil in two hours of real-time instead of 24. Ironically enough, the leap to a big screen movie may dependent on the series being cancelled. Entertainment Weekly is reporting that while FOX is mulling renewing 24, Breach and State of Play scribe Billy Ray has been called in to pitch a big screen movie for the Keifer Sutherland franchise – and the producers love it.
24 is still FOX’s number two drama in terms of ratings, but cancellation could hinge on the fact that is tenured cast and crew don’t come cheap eight seasons in, and the show’s budget may be creating a fairly challenging profit ratio for the network. EW Is reporting that the 24 writer’s room is currently breaking the show’s finale two hours; whether they would need to write a final hour that somehow brings closure to the television rendition of the series is up to speculation. They could just end with the typical 24 cliff hanger and let anxious fans line up at ticket counters.
As to what a 24 movie would look like, there are a couple of scenarios that have been floated around. Keifer Sutherland has said that the movie would be 24 hours in a two-hour flick, thus NOT real time. Further back the suggestion had been floated that the movie would still use the series’ real time perspective.
Whatever happens, expect it to come quickly. FOX Execs are watching the numbers over the next couple of weeks and a decision on Jack Bauer’s future in cathode – or lcd/led/plasma for you contemporaries - is expected soon.
