Kiefer Sutherland's Jack Bauer Return For 24 Reboot Just Got Better With New Update

Published Oct 10, 2026, 10:26 AM EDT

Hannah Gearan (she/her) is has been writing for ScreenRant for over three years. Her deep cinema love traces back to age 11, when she equipped herself with a spiral-bound notebook, rated all the films she watched, and declared herself a critic. About a decade later, she received a BA from Wesleyan University, where she studied Film, Environmental Studies, and Writing. Hannah’s short film, Toxic Faucets, has screened at numerous film festivals, including the Independent Film Festival of Boston (IFFBoston). As a Movie News writer now, she draws upon her vast experience studying, making, and analyzing film as she approaches dynamic breaking stories. 

A new update is in for the 24 reboot series.

Starring Kiefer Sutherland as the iconic Jack Bauer, 24 was a big success that aired on Fox from 2001 to 2010. Released in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, the series centers around a counterterrorism agent named Jack who seeks to protect the United States from extreme horrors as he fights terrorism around the clock. 24 ran for eight seasons and won an impressive 20 Emmys. Since then, the network has had several unsuccessful attempts to expand the franchise, but there are hopes for a reboot with Bauer's return.

During a Young Guns panel at FanX Salt Lake, moderated by Collider's Maggie Lovitt, Sutherland addresses the 24 reboot series, with one hopeful conclusion. The Bauer actor acknowledged the ongoing delays due to behind-the-scenes "ownership changes," which fueled concerns that the new team's "interest maybe is not as strong." However, Sutherland assured that "there's a really good idea in place." He also confirmed his return as Jack Bauer and his enthusiasm to play the role, noting that he "miss[es] the character."

I don't believe it's a rights issue. It's just the people who have the rights have to have the will and want to make it. I think one of the things, you know, when companies kind of change hands and ownership changes hands, is the people who were invested, the original people in making it, their interest maybe is not as strong.

Howard Gordon is a wonderful writer, Joel Surnow, really big idea guy and the creator of 24. I think there's a really good idea in place, and hopefully — I mean, I miss the character. I miss the show. I miss making something that made people so happy, and so I can only hope that it happens really soon because no one wants to see an old, kind of limping Jack Bauer. So, yeah, we'll see what happens.

The 24 revival has been talked about for years, as the actor told GQ magazine in 2022 that Bauer's storyline was "unresolved." Last year, Sutherland indicated that the development was moving forward and that he would consider returning as Bauer. In September 2025, the show had made some "considerable steps forward."

This has not been without setbacks. As Sutherland acknowledges, Fox is now under Disney's control, representing an ownership change from the time that 24 was originally conceived. Disney acquired much of 21st Century Fox in 2019. As of writing, the studio has not announced a series order for the reboot.

Meanwhile, efforts to expand the series came with little success. For instance, 2017's Legacy failed to make an impact and was cancelled after one season. Then, in 2024, it was reported that a 24 movie was in early development. However, the details were sparse, and it was uncertain whether the feature would involve Sutherland. Two years later, there have been no further updates.

Nonetheless, this update is positive for 24, now that an idea is in place. Howard Gordon and his team will have big shoes to fill in making the 24 reboot series, as the mothership show is still well-watched today and gets good reviews. But if they can succeed, 24's revival series could make a big splash once again.

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