1. The big-screen 24 movie that the show's producers have planned for several years is on hold indefinitely. It has been replaced by the two-hour TV movie -- 24: Redemption -- that airs Nov. 23.
2. The movie sets up the storyline for the show's seventh season, which premieres across two nights, on Fox Jan. 12 and 13.
3. Season 7 was postponed for an entire year because of the Writers Guild of America strike. The season was originally scheduled to premiere on Jan. 13, 2008.
4. 24: Redemption is set roughly three years after the action of 24 season six. Jack Bauer, wanted by the U.S. government for questioning about all his save-the-world actions, is working as a missionary in South Africa. As always, just as he's trying to work out his personal issues, he’s called upon to play hero -- this time for a school of African children who are going to be kidnapped by an evil warlord who wants to turn them into soldiers for his government coup.
5. The movie, which was filmed on location in Cape Town, South Africa, will be released in a special "creator's cut" DVD on Nov. 25. In addition to 10 extra minutes of footage and cast commentary, it also includes the first 16 minutes of the season seven premiere.
6. 24: Redemption introduces viewers to a new President of the United States: Allison Taylor. Tony Award-winning actress Cherry Jones (right) plays the first female POTUS.
7. President Taylor's husband, known as the First Gentleman, is Henry Taylor, and he's played by Changeling star Colm Feore.
8. Also in the cast: Ally McBeal star Gil Bellows as Frank Tramell, a U.S. government official who tracks Jack down in Africa; Robert Carlyle, The Full Monty star and personal friend of Kiefer Sutherland, as Carl Benton, a former colleague of Jack's who runs the African school for rescued child soldiers; Powers Boothe and Peter MacNicol reprising their season six roles as outgoing President Noah Daniels and Daniels’ administration member Tom Lennox; and Jon Voight as Jonas Hodges, an American baddie who's secretly funding a genocidal African rebel leader's coup of his own government.
9. In season seven, there is no Counter Terrorism Unit, or CTU, Jack's old employer. After the actions of season six, CTU was disbanded by the government and the FBI is now covering CTU's responsibilities.
10. And the rumors are true: Tony Almeida is alive! Jack's most trusted former CTU cohort appeared to die in Jack's arms in season five, after being stabbed in the chest with a pain-inducing drug. But still kicking and causing headaches for his former government employers in the season seven premiere.
KEEP READING: Tony's back? ...