24: Legacy EP Says Kiefer Sutherland 'Hasn't Ruled Out' a Role on Spinoff 

Though there’s a brand-new hero at the heart of Fox’s

series (debuting after the Super Bowl in February 2017), the door

As reported by HitFix’s Alan Sepinwall, who on Friday morning moderated an ATX Television Festival panel about uberproducer Howard Gordon‘s career, the longtime

executive producer said that Kiefer Sutherland “hasn’t ruled out” an appearance on the offshoot, which stars Corey Hawkins (

) as a former Army Ranger who, upon returning to the U.S., turns to the CTU for help in stopping what could potentially be one of the largest-scale terror attacks on American soil.

“I do think the character has life in him, whether it’s a movie or if he intersects with this new iteration of 24,” Gordon said. “I sure would love to see him at some point on the show, and I don’t think [Kiefer]’s ruled it out, either.”

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, which he previously has said is sure to deliver “something cool and clever,” adding: “I’ll be one of the first people who can’t wait to see it.” But his commitment as the star of the promising new ABC drama

— in which he plays a low-ranking cabinet member-turned-president of the United States — would limit his availability for Fox’s reboot.

Still, Sutherland has made no secret of want to one day bring closure to Jack Bauer’s story, which at the close of the limited series

saw him being sent off to a Russian prison. “I have no idea if the [

] movie will ever happen, or Jack Bauer might end up finding his way into an episode [of

RELATED24: Legacy: Miranda Otto Cast as Female Lead in Reboot

In January, Gordon defended to TVLine the decision to find a new front man for the action franchise, saying, “We’ve been thinking about this forever: Is

Jack Bauer? And for the longest time it was — until we all felt, after

, that really that story has been told.”

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Really hope Jack Bauer will make an appearance in 24: Legacy but if he doesn’t it would very well be the end for the series. That should be the plan moving forward on a possible movie version in the near future depending on whether Kiefer Sutherland agrees to the project.

Need him and Tony and make a clear ending for each. No screwing viewers around or trying to perlong crap. Then go on with the off shoot.

They are dangling the carrot of Jack coming back in some capacity because they know viewers of the original “24” aren’t likely to tune into a “24” without him. If the new “hero” is a “former” Army Ranger, how can he turn to CTU for help??? What capacity is he serving in now? Is he a member of CTU??? If not, how does he have access to them? And, if he’s not a member of CTU, is it really still “24”???

I won’t bite. If he appears in a episode I’ll watch, but honestly it’s so much of a mess, I hope his new show on ABC is good and keeps him too busy to do so.

For me, 24 is Jack Bauer. I’m am willing to give the new show a chance but as good as the new lead may be, he can’t replace Jack.. I’ll just have to pretend that I am watching a new series. I am definitely more interested in seeing Keifer full time on his new series than the 24 reboot

If he actually shows up people will wonder why he isn’t on more,lol.Bad move either way.

What a pathetic way to lure people to watch the new show, which btw doesnt look gripping in those previews….

Well,the only way I would watch this is if they DID bring Jack back! Because,yes Mr. Gordon, 24 is Jack Bauer and Jack Bauer is 24.

Keifer himself has said 24 is about the scheme of the presentation, not him. While that is his opinion apparently, in my opinion most fans of 24 do not see it that way. 24 is Jack Bauer. Keifer is Jack Bauer. 24 is Keifer. End of story.

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