While the new Fall and Spring prime time schedules were the major story at this morning's FOX upfronts, news of
24's two-hour season 7 prequel movie kind of fell through the cracks. The film, which takes place between the end of Day 6 and the beginning of Day 7, will air on Sunday, November 23 at 8pm. The prequel will be mostly shot on location in South Africa, where our hero Jack Bauer becomes embroiled in an international crisis while, back home, the new president readies for her inauguration. The new season of
24, Day 7, will air in its entirety beginning in January of 2009. It will reclaim its usual Mondays at 9pm time slot.
Your Take
BenWeobong2 said:
i just love to watch 24! makes me very disciplined when it comes to close time for work......
but i guess ...
adnanranda2 said:
i love 24! i started to watch this when season 5
oscardahl said:
I doubt that TOny will be involved at all i nthe prequel.
Still no word on whether the 24 prequel movie will keep the real-time format. My guess is that the first part of the movie will not and will span time, cutting between Africa and Washington D.C., but then at some point in the final half, the beeps will kick in and we'll get our 24 real-time fix.
Executive producer Howard Gordon had this to say about the upcoming prequel: “We're excited about the prequel because it explores Jack's complex emotional state of mind and still has all the signature excitement and suspense that fans have come to expect from 24. Shooting in South Africa affirms everyone's commitment to making this season especially memorable for our fans.”
Jack's emotional state will certainly be complex, as will his reasons for fleeing to Africa. The 24 team has been clear that the prequel isn't really a stand-alone feature: it will inform the action of season 7. Receiving some back story on the new female president (played by Broadway veteran Cherry Jones) will be helpful for both the audience and the 24 writers. But, let's be honest – the prequel sounds great because it involves Jack Bauer kicking ass on location in South Africa.
UPDATE!!!
Robert Carlyle has been cast as Benton in the prequel, Jack's mentor in Africa. Robert Carlyle is a great actor, who you may have seen in Trainspotting or The Full Monty. Cool bit of casting.
Which are you more excited for?
-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image Courtesy of FOX)