24 in the Works

Twentieth Century Fox is looking to give the green light on the movie 24, based on its own series by the same name. Actor Kiefer Sutherland will be starring in the movie as Jack Bauer, an enemy to terrorists worldwide, same as on the TV series.

Despite the fact that they haven’t gone into production yet, Fox is already talking to Billy Ray, screenwriter for State of Play, to write the script for the movie.

However, Fox is holding out on production to see how the series itself will do in its eighth season over the next few weeks. If the ratings do well and they renew it for a ninth season, then the movie production will be postponed. However, if they do not renew it then they will begin production on the movie.

The show has been down in total viewers compared to last year through January 31 by 10 percent (11.9 million against 13.3 million) and down 15 percent in adults 18-49. Despite this, it remains Fox’s third-most watched show behind American Idol and House. The network needs to decide soon as the 23rd and 24th episodes of the current season will need to be written and the writers need to know if they have to write the finale or not.

Whether they renew the series for another season or start on the movie, either way fans of 24 can’t lose.