24: Revival of the Cult Series with Kiefer Sutherland Becomes More Realistic

Will we finally get to see Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer again after all these years? The chances are not bad. There has been talk of a revival of the real-time series for some time now. In an interview with the entertainment portal Movieweb, Sutherland gave an update on the current status.

"I love playing that character, and it would be nice to figure out a way to tell a story that has an end. There's a lot of moving parts. Howard Gordon has written something that I thought was really interesting and exciting. It would be something that I'm certainly open to doing."

Gordon is a true "24" veteran. He has been part of the writers' room since the first season and has been the showrunner since season 5. Gordon also recently commented on the "24" revival in the industry magazine Deadline.

"It's absolutely in process, there's something we are developing. [Disney and 20th TV] have not committed to it, so it still is a process."

So the revival is not yet a done deal. It is also currently unclear whether the return is planned as a film or in series format. However, fans have been hoping for a continuation of the Jack Bauer story for a long time. There is one main reason for this: "24" has already been brought back once after the original series ended. But the ninth season "Live Another Day" ended relatively openly. Now more than ever, we can hope that Jack Bauer will get a fitting farewell.

The 24 phenomenon

When "24" first appeared on screens in 2001, the real-time thriller series revolutionized the format of modern television. With Kiefer Sutherland in the lead role as Jack Bauer, the series set new standards in terms of suspense, narrative pace and dramaturgical consistency. To this day, it is considered one of the most influential series productions in the action genre – and a cult favorite for millions of fans worldwide.

Real time as the dramaturgical engine

Probably the most striking aspect of "24" is its unique narrative principle: Each season covers 24 hours in the life of CTU agent Jack Bauer, and each episode represents one hour of that timeframe. The constantly ticking clock creates an almost physical tension and conveys the feeling of being there live.

This real-time structure was not only innovative, but also lent the series an intensity that literally kept the audience glued to the screen. Decisions had to be made immediately, moral dilemmas unfolded without pause and the plot left no time to catch one's breath. "24" was television in a state of emergency.

Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer

Kiefer Sutherland embodied Jack Bauer with a mixture of unwavering determination, toughness and deep inner conflict. Bauer is not a flawless hero – he visibly carries the weight of his decisions and has to contend with tough losses. Season after season, Jack is confronted with morally difficult questions. He usually receives support from various allies. Memorable characters include Chloe O'Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub), Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard) and David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert).

Fast pace, constant twists and turns, no guarantees

The merciless cliffhangers are a trademark of "24". There are few other series where you feel such a strong urge to start the next episode immediately after finishing one. "24" is also known for its constant twists and turns: Characters died unexpectedly, allies turned out to be traitors, and no sooner was one threat averted than the next one appeared. Fans still appreciate this uncompromising suspense and the way the series kept surprising the audience. Another iconic feature is the extensive use of split screens, which repeatedly brought together events taking place at the same time.

With these elements, "24" inspired numerous other series and had a lasting impact on the action thriller in the TV landscape. One of its spiritual successors at the time was the highly successful "Homeland". Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa, another "24" writer, are behind the espionage thriller.

Numerous seasons and episodes

The popularity of "24" initially resulted in eight seasons with 24 episodes each. Between seasons 6 and 7, the film "24: Redemption" was also made, which introduced the events in season 7. After the series ended in 2010, "24" celebrated its comeback with "Live Another Day" (aka season 9) – this time with just 12 episodes. In 2016, a spin-off series was attempted, also with 12 episodes. However, the success of "24: Legacy" was limited, which is why the series was canceled after one season. In total, the franchise now has ten seasons, 216 episodes and one film. With the exception of "24: Redemption", you can find all of this on Hulu.