Posted on Feb 9, 2010 at 6:06 am · by 1

Big-Screen ’24′ One Step Closer

In its eighth season, “24″ seems to be running on vapors. There are larger-than-ever plot holes, the show still has a big problem writing for women characters, and former CTU Agent Of Death Jack Bauer is sadly looking a little long in the tooth. That’s why the news of a screenwriter officially attached to pen a feature-length “24″ script is so surprising.

Fox announced that writer Billy Ray would develop the script for a big-screen version of “24,” which would take place in Europe. Ray, who has written “State of Play,” “Flightplan,” “Suspect Zero” and Duncan Jones’ upcoming “Source Code,” would work with executive producer Sutherland on the story.

A multiplex run for “24″ is nowhere near certainty, even with the hire. The current season is down over ten percent in ratings from the previous year, and fans are publicly wondering if its time for Bauer to hang up his Glock. Producers are quick to point out that a film version of the show would depend on “a number of factors influencing how quickly it moves ahead, including the fate of the TV show.”

I liken the position “24″ is in with that of another Fox mainstay, “The Simpsons.” Even as the show was on a steady decline both critically and in the ratings, “The Simpsons Movie” reminded everyone why the show worked for two decades with some of the best writing those characters had ever had. Perhaps a focused effort to bring Jack Bauer Power Hour to theaters will provide a similar renaissance.

Devin Pike

Devin Pike remembers the Web when it was nothing but annoying animated GIFs as far as the eye can see. A film critic and entertainment reporter for over 30 years, Devin is the former Editor for Red Carpet Crash. Mostly, Devin hates talking about himself in the third person, because it makes him feel schizophrenic.
  • Ian

    Devin,

    One of the biggest problems that has plagued 24 is the show’s willingness to completely kill off or remove well established and liked characters on the show. Season 6 was terrible after the house cleaning that took place in season 5. Tony Almeida’s return in season 7 was awesome, and drove the ratings of the show up a little bit. Then for some reason, the producers decided not to include Tony in season 8 and lo and behold, the ratings are down again. The show-runners think the show can survive on the power of Sutherland’s presence alone. Could you imagine getting to the 6th season of LOST and only having Matthew Fox and Yunjin Kim as the only well established characters left on the show. That’s basically what 24 has done with Sutherland and Mary Lynn Rajskub, and the material is just not compelling enough to engage the audience.

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