Related Sections: Interviews News TV
Kiefer Sutherland looks ahead to 'Day 8' of 24
Howard Gordon, executive producer of Fox's 24, revealed to SCI FI Wire the unsurprising news that Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) will in fact survive his current apparently fatal illness—the result of exposure to a toxic biological agent—to fight another "day."
"Jack Bauer is alive," Gordon said with a laugh in an interview at a party in Los Angeles on Tuesday to celebrate the upcoming two-hour seventh-season finale, which kicks off Monday at 8 p.m. ET/PT. (Possible spoilers ahead!)
But Jack's convalescence will take time—around 12 to 18 months, Gordon revealed—before the adventures of season eight commence, this time over the course of one day in New York.
"Time in the world of 24 is not precise," Gordon said, adding: "Don't do the math."
Sutherland's recent run-in with the law—the 42-year-old actor was charged with misdemeanor assault in New York last Thursday after allegedly getting physical with designer Jack McCollough at a party—doesn't seem to be holding up shooting, Gordon said. Asked whether the show will return in January 2010 as scheduled, he replied: "Yes. We're back on schedule, and we're starting two weeks from today."
For his part, Sutherland described the eighth "day" as real-world-based. "The setup for season eight is the most realistic political thing that I think we've ever done since we started the show," he said. "We've had some seriously questionable circumstances in our show, and they've been a lot of fun to play, but I think the setup for season eight, in certain aspects, is something I actually hope will happen. And I think a lot of people will feel that way. So the threat becomes almost deeper on that level, too. So I'm very excited about the potential of where that can go."
Season seven will be released on DVD and, for the first time, on Blu-ray next Tuesday. The set will include all sorts of extras, including commentaries and deleted scenes, but there won't be any outtakes. Producers are saving those for the final season.
"I think our show requires the audience to suspend their disbelief enough that seeing the outtakes and making fun of the show ... would be really detrimental," Sutherland explains. "But there's some really funny s--t."
Gordon revealed his favorite for us. "There's a particularly good one where Kiefer does a whole scene, serious as can be, with a stuffed raccoon on his head," he said. Sutherland said they've been saving the outtakes for seven years and promised that they would "put a reel together" for the season-eight DVD/Blu-ray release.
By Facepalm at 8:33 AM ON 05/14/09
Was there ever any doubt? Jack Bauer is like some robot you keep in the attic. At some point you just unleash it, the wiring comes off, dust and fog everywhere and a smoky voice is coughing "Chloe, what's the situation?". The series is already so far out, they can essentially have Kim Bauer bring every bad guy back as a clone from the dead to resolve her daddy issues. So no, I did not buy him dying for a second.
The only real annoying thing about 24 are the stakes. It has become so annoyingly about saving the free world all the time that one almost forgets how good the plot was when it was simply about a planned shooting of a Presidential candidate and not about the destruction of the United States as a whole. It is a bit zany when the conspirators go from air traffic terrorist, to full frontal White House assault. That is one hell of a backup plan. The sort of plan you are more amused than thrilled about. A modern MacGuyver you watch amused as Jack is hatching yet another insane plan while having a gun to his head.
By Zaphod at 11:02 AM ON 05/14/09
Hey! How about a spoiler warning before you put something major about the show in the first sentence!!!! Not all of us have watched it yet!!!
By Kyle Nin at 11:12 AM ON 05/14/09
I'm not sure it's all that much of a surprise.
By Kevin at 11:39 AM ON 05/14/09
Just about the only thing they haven't done is an alien invasion.
By kernel_thai at 1:00 PM ON 05/14/09
If Jack had used his famous sleeper hold instead of head butting Jack McCollough he prolly wouldnt have gotten in trouble at all.
By hey-yas-all! at 10:17 PM ON 05/14/09
24 in New York? Can he neutralize Mayor Bloomberg? Please?
By IsoTek at 11:38 PM ON 05/14/09
Well, I knew he was coming back. Not because his daughter is his key to survival or this article, but because Kiefer said the show would be back for one more season months ago. People have been wanting, hoping and planing for the demise of "24" so much that he felt he had to divulge that tidbit early so none of this surprises me, but am glad as I am an avid watcher.
By Will at 1:20 PM ON 05/16/09
I've heard rumblings that season 8 might be the last year but did they just admit it here? When they start talking about outtakes it says that "Producers are saving those for the final season." A couple of paragraphs later, Kiefer says that they would put an outtake reel together "for the season-eight DVD/Blu-ray release." So if they won't do outtakes until the final season, but are planning to do them for season eight's DVD set....
By Kimberly at 5:39 PM ON 05/16/09
24 rocks the house on TV!!!!!! Jack Bauer will never go away because America needs him! I'm very happy that 24 is going to the day eight. I wish all the best for Kiefer.
By Dave at 4:19 AM ON 05/17/09
Wasn't this supposed to be a website about Science Fiction and Fantasy? You know SciFi Wire, not Syfy Wire. 24 is not sci-fi.
By Ilana at 8:14 AM ON 05/18/09
I cant believe 24 is ending last year!!! Is that cofirmed????
By Wixey at 6:33 AM ON 05/19/09
Excellent end to S7... Although I absolutely love the Series, I think they should end at Season 8 and I am sure they will.... A film after would be great, but Jack Bauer has got to rest some time surely!! Good luck to Kiefer in all he does, and I thought Carlos was excellent and deserves an award for this Season..
By sandy hash at 8:16 PM ON 05/19/09
I'm so glad 24 will be coming back in january. i was hoping it was'nt the last season. just wish we did'nt have to wait so long to see season 8
By desol81 at 5:28 PM ON 05/20/09
Final season?? I know Kiefer is only signed upto Season 8, but might it also continue?
Dopiest plot point: they cut up Jack and throw him in a pot with a few vegetables and presto, toxin stew. C'mon, really!
By sisimka at 12:04 PM ON 05/22/09
I love Jack Bauer, I really do, but I had hoped he might die at the end of season seven. It's time. I think the writers missed a wonderful opportunity to wrap up the entire series - with the guy who ordered the assassination of David Palmer in custody - neatly and with a bow.
And honestly, how many times can one man save the world? Jack rocks, but he has stepped into the realm of impossibility.
By UTD at 8:19 PM ON 05/25/09
if indeed bauer will return for a 9th season it would be great if they could involve jack around the presidents visit to say the united nations or something and that the president gets kidnapped...some story like that would be great or involve the united kingdom in some way...lets say same storyline with the united nations and all hell breaks loose in the united kingdom..
just a thought to play with there writers....
hint...hint
By 24inDallas at 10:55 AM ON 05/26/09
Spoiler comment below.
Hey UTD--- It sounds like you have already heard the interviews with Kiefer because these ideas for season 8 certainly are not yours.
By billandeve at 6:03 PM ON 12/21/09
We love Jack Bauer and are so happy that he will be back. Hope he is on for a long time.
Visit mobile.syfy.com/wire on your mobile device.
billandeve:
We love Jack Bauer and are so happy that he will be back. Hope he is on for a long time....More »