24 Returns To Television And The Comic-Con
Written by Andreas Tihanyi on July 31, 2009 – 11:30 am -
The events of season 7 had left Jack Bauer on death’s door, a prospect that he had come to peacefully accept. Fortunately for 24 fans, the shows producers were far less willing to allow Jack to rest in the grave.
Creators and cast of the serialized FOX drama “24” attended the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con International Convention to talk to fans about season 8, otherwise know as Day 8, slated to premier on January 17, 2010.
Shooting for Day 8 began on May 27, 2009. Producers said the story of season 8, focusing on the New York Counter Terrorist Unit, will be tied much more closely to the previous season than any other two seasons have ever been.
When asked how they came up with ideas for each new season, Executive Producer Howard Gordon responded, “First step, panic.” Executive Producer Evan Katz added, “Then more panic.” But within about three months they had four different scripts to choose from. As far as a 24 feature film, producers told us those plans are set aside for after the television series runs it’s course.
Annie Wersching and Cherry Jones return to play their powerful female characters, Agent Renee Walker and President Allison Taylor.
Kiefer Sutherland and Mary Lynn Rajskub also reprise their roles as Jack Bauer and Chloe O’Brian, but each will be facing new situations they are not accustomed to: Jack will have to cope with the burden of being happy. He is retired, reunited with his daughter, and learning how to be a grandfather. Perhaps the only other moment we have seen Jack so content was during the start of season one.
Executive Producer Manny Coto remarked, “There is always this dread when watching, that this is not going to last, and it makes those moments so much more poignant.”
Howard Gordon explains, “This is what we do, put Jack in peril.”
Evan Katz included, “We had to come up with new terrible things for Jack.”
Chloe will be returning to CTU after having taken a break from her profession to raise a child. But this time she is not the lead data analyst. Having fallen behind, she takes orders from the amiable Katee Sackhoff (“Starbuck” Battlestar Galactica). Katee said she has always wanted to be a member of the cast since the shows creation and is thrilled to finally get the opportunity. Her character is engaged to a CTU field agent and former marine played by an equally thrilled newcomer Freddie Prince Jr.
Another new cast member is Anil Kapoor (Slumdog Millionare), playing a leader from the Middle East who is deeply involved in the peace initiative. Other newcomers include John Boyd and Chris Diamantopoulos.
Kiefer talked a little about the upcoming season, “This season is probably more grounded in the potential of what is going to happen in the world, or what could possibly happen. There is a sense of reality to season eight that really brings us almost full circle to season one.”
“The threat centers around the peace conference at the UN being handled by the president of the United States and the President of Iran, and the rest of the day kind of takes forward from that point. When those opportunities present themselves there are also threats, and that is basically what season eight is about. These guys [writers] seem to be in tune with what’s happening in the world and they’ve done it again this year.”
Kiefer also had this to say, “Thank you so much, this last eight years of my life, as an actor, as a person, has been really the best eight years of my life, and that is because you guys have supported us in the way you have and I can never tell you how grateful I am.”
Authors Comment:
If the stories written by Jules Verne can inspire people such as Robert Oppenheimer, Director of the Manhattan project, to envision the splitting of the atom which ultimately led to the creation of an atomic bomb, then perhaps the continuing stories of Jack Bauer may serve as inspiration for those who desire to do what is necessary to rid the world of the corruption and evils that have left it in it’s current state.
Related posts:
- 24 Drops Seventh Season Bomb At Comic Con
- Sutherland Hypes Up 24
- Sutherland Hints At Day Eight Of 24
- All Change For 24 And Jack
- Heroes Returns To British Television
Tags: 24, Comic Con Panel, Fox Network, Kiefer Sutherland, Manny Coto
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