24 is Back: Fox Officially Announces Event Series, 24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY

There’s life after cancellation for Jack Bauer: Fox announced (officially) today that 24 will be heading back to the network with a 12-hour event series as 24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY.

“[The creative team realized that] 24 being compressed into two hours [for a movie] is not 24,” Kevin Reilly, Chairman, Fox Broadcasting Company said on a conference call earlier today.

However, when Fox announced their commitment to making limited-run series, the team had a lightbulb go off. “‘Why are we killing ourselves trying to crack a feature when this is the perfect form?'” Reilly said of their mindset.

“When [24 executive producer/showrunner] Howard [Gordon] came to us saying he had an idea for a new chapter of ‘24,’ he quite simply had us at ‘hello,’” remarked 20^th Century Fox Television Chairmen Gary Newman and Dana Walden in a statement. “’24’ is a signature series for this studio, beloved by critics and audiences worldwide. Howard’s idea to revive the franchise as an event series couldn’t be timelier, and with the brilliant Kiefer Sutherland on board to reprise his iconic role, we can’t wait to get started.”

“The response to ‘24’ is unlike anything I have ever experienced as an actor before,” noted Sutherland. “To have the chance to reunite with the character, Jack Bauer, is like finding a lost friend. The story ideas from Howard Gordon are exciting and fresh, and will not disappoint. Great thanks to 20^th Century Fox Television, Imagine Television and the FOX network for this opportunity. Make no mistake, my goal is to knock your socks off. See you soon.”

“Jack Bauer has always been an exciting, thrilling character, and I confess that I’ve missed him. I think the audience has too,” said Gordon. “The character has evolved through the years, and this new and exciting event series format is perfect to tell the next chapter of his story and continue to reflect how the world is changing. Fans can rest assured that the Jack they know and love will be back.”

On the conference call, Reilly said the goal was to have the series ready to go by May 2014 and didn’t rule out that this would be Jack Bauer’s last on-screen adventure.

Are you excited to have 24 back?

Follow @GiveMeMyRemote and @marisaroffman on Twitter for the latest TV news. Connect with other TV fans on GIVE ME MY REMOTE’s official Facebook page.

And to be the first to see our exclusive videos by subscribing to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/givememyremotetv