Twentieth Century Fox’s film and TV studios are cooking up a plan to bring hit TV series 24 to the big-screen.
Variety reports the film studio has hired Billy Ray to pen the script for the feature version, which would put Jack Bauer on European time.
The script is said to have come through 24 star Kiefer Sutherland, who is reportedly eager to turn the long-running TV show into a feature franchise.
The film would be produced by the TV show’s key exec producers. Brian Grazer‘s Imagine Entertainment, which produces the show along with 20th Century Fox TV, also would be involved.
Insiders cautioned that a 24 feature is still very much in the preliminary stages.
Fox doesn’t have a deal for a ninth season of 24 and hasn’t yet decided whether to order another. Insiders told Variety that the network is waiting to see this week’s ratings before making a decision, but the betting is that this season will be the final one.
A decision is needed soon, says the Hollywood Insider blog. A source close to the show told HI that producers are preparing to write the 23rd and 24th episodes of the current season so they need to know whether to pen a series finale. Production on the drama is scheduled to wrap March 24.
