While the legions of 24 fans across the globe, and most people involved with making the extremely successful and innovative show (which ran for eight seasons, from 2001, to 2010, and has already had one direct-to-video film), would love to see seminal terrorist hunter, and frequent world savior, Jack Bauer returning in a feature film version of the series, it appears they will have to wait a little longer than anticipated, as 20th Century Fox have recently turned down a script for the planned movie.
Despite being written by screenwriter Billy Ray; whose credits include Hart’s War, Volcano, Flightplan, and State of Play; Fox didn’t feel that the proposed script was strong or compelling enough, so have decided to pass on 24: the movie (not an official title) for now; but will likely give the green light as soon as a stronger script is presented, due to the fact that Jack still has the potential to be a huge earner.
Talking back in April Kiefer Sutherland; The Lost Boys actor who plays the series’ signature hero Jack Bauer; has said that unlike the show, a film wouldn’t be presented in real-time, but would instead be a two-hour representation of a 24-hour timeframe, that would likely take place outside of the U.S.; as filming was to take place largely in Europe (with locations including London and Prague).
24 producer Howard Gordon has gone on record as saying that the film is currently in a state of “suspended animation” but that “people are still talking about it” and that whilst Billy Ray’s script didn’t quite live up to studio expectations, Unstoppable director “Tony Scott is meeting with Kiefer to talk about ideas”; meaning that a 24 movie could well be on the cards sometime in the future.
