Summary
It appears the24movie is finally moving ahead, but those worried about how the concept will fare on the big screen need look no further than a forgotten Johnny Depp thriller.24’suse of real time set it apart from other TV thrillers when it premiered in 2001, with each episode covering an hour in a particularly hectic day in the life of CTU Agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland).Later seasons of24became more outlandish with the threats Jack faced, but the show was never less than compulsively watchable.
Development on a film version began soon after the original series ended following its eighth season in 2010. There wasa crossover idea dubbedDie Hard 24/7, where Jack would have teamed with Bruce Willis' John McClane. Sutherland himself nixed this, and while filmmakers like Tony Scott and Antoine Fuqua were linked to a solo film, it ultimately fell through in lieu of revival miniseriesLive Another Dayin 2014.It has now been confirmed the24movie is back in development, though plot details have yet to be revealed.
The Upcoming 24 Movie Can Finally Pay Off The Show’s Biggest Unfinished Jack Bauer Story
A 24 movie is in development, which might be the last chance the franchise has to resolve a major storyline involving Kiefer Sutherland’s Jack Bauer.
Johnny Depp’s Nick Of Time Proves 24 Can Work As A Movie
Real time can absolutely work on the big screen
The return of24is cause for celebration from fans, though there’s confusion over how the premise will work. After all, unless the film itself is 24 hours long, some changes will need to be made to accommodate the real time element. While this format can add genuine suspense, most movies or shows tend to avoid it because it’s difficult to maintain.Nick of Timeis the rare movie that takes place entirely within real time, where Johnny Deep’s meek accountant is given an hour to commit an assassination or his daughter will be killed instead.
By any metric, the film was a failure upon arrival in 1995.Nick of Timegrossed a mere $8 million on a budget of $33 million(viaBox Office Mojo), and reviews weren’t much better. It currently sits at 30% onRotten Tomatoes, but despite its initial reception,Nick of Timehas earned a cult following. The thriller’s real time format really helps dial up the suspense, and while Gene is one of Depp’s least memorable characters, he’s surrounded by the likes of Charles S. Dutton, Roma Maffia and Christopher Walken, who devours scenery as the main villain.
Nick of Timealso proves a real time thriller like24can work as a movie and that the format can be a helpinstead of a hindrance. Audiences can feel the minutes ticking by as Gene tries to worm out of the assassination. It even manages to squeeze character development and little arcs into its slim runtime, an impressive feat in itself.
24 Already Experimented With A Movie Version
2008’s Redemption tested the waters for a 24 film
The franchise moving to the big screen is an exciting change, but it technically won’t be the first24movie. That honor belongs to24: Redemption, a 2008 TV film that took Jack to Africa. This spinoff was created when production on the seventh season was delayed due to the Writers Strike of 2007-2008; not wanting to have Jack off the air for a whole year,Redemptionwas created as a bridge between24seasons 6 and 7.
Kiefer Sutherland also co-starred in 2002’sPhone Boothalongside Colin Farrell, which also employed a real time element and largely took place in a confined location.
This TV movie laid the groundwork for key characters in season 7, and condenses the entire story into two hours. Viewed as an experiment,24: Redemptionis an intriguing curio and one that felt more cinematic in scopeand execution. It also marked the first time the property moved overseas. Still, it’s not an essential part of the series and is rarely mentioned nowadays. Whether the filmmakers behind the upcoming movie learned any lessons fromRedemptionis another question.
How Will The 24 Movie Adapt The Show’s Premise?
Will “events still take place in real time” in the 24 film?
The most logical choice would involve the24film unfolding over a single day while having the last act take place in real time.
So little is known about the24movie that even Kiefer Sutherland’s involvement hasn’t been confirmedby its makers. Outside of the possible return of Jack Bauer, one of the big questions surrounding it is how the film will adapt the show’s format. It feels like there are only three options available, with the first being thatthe24movie adaptation could drop the real time elements entirely and instead take place over the course of 24 hours. This is an obvious route - but one that would be incredibly disappointing too.
Real time is just as key to the franchise’s success as Jack himself, so it needs to be included in some way.The second option is to copy whatRedemptiondid and have the entire story take place within a two hour timeframeinstead of covering a whole day. The third choice is probably the most logical, which involves the24film unfolding over a single day while having the last act take place in real time.
24
Cast
24 follows CTU (Counter-Terrorism Unit) agent Jack Bauer as he contends with various threats to national and international security by any means necessary. With each season comprised of 24 episodes telling Bauer’s story in real-time, 24 brings the action to life one day at a time. Racing against the clock, Bauer is forced to make impossible decisions in the name of public service, bending his personal morals to get the job done.
