24’ Franchise Eyes Comeback At Fox With Female-Led Legal Thriller Drama (tr)

Deadline ^ | November 1, 2017 | Nellie Andreeva

[EdnaMode]

Fox is developing a potential new incarnation of its Emmy-winning drama series that would have a female lead and take the real-time format of the terrorism-themed original and apply it to a different arena, criminal justice.

The project, which has received a script commitment, hails from 24 franchise executive producers Howard Gordon and Imagine’s Brian Grazer, as well as former The Killing writer-producer Jeremy Doner and the franchise’s production companies, 20th Century Fox TV and Imagine TV. Doner will write the script with Gordon, who ran the original series.

Details about the premise are sketchy, but I hear that the potential new 24 series centers on a female prosecutor who uncovers a legal conspiracy and has to work against the clock to save a death row inmate facing imminent execution whom she had helped prosecute but may be innocent. I hear this is part of an anthological take on 24 that would tackle a new world with new characters each season.

The idea is in line with the plans for the 24 franchise outlined by Fox bosses during the summer TCA in August.

”We are really exploring what the future, the next version of 24 might be, maybe in more anthological storytelling,” Fox chairman Dana Walden said then, with sources at the time indicating the network may develop multiple ideas before deciding which one to proceed with. I hear that still may be the case.

“The same kind of ticking-clock format but apply it to something else,” then-Fox Entertainment president David Madden said at TCA. “It will have the same urgency but may not be set in the CTU, it will have same style and urgency but in a different venue.”

Imagine has been spearheading the efforts to reimagine the 24 franchise after the end of 24: Legacy. I hear the company brought Doner onto the project and introduced him to Gordon.

This would make the latest reinvention of 24. Four years after the acclaimed original series, created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran, ended its eight-season run on Fox, the network aired follow-up event series 24: Live Another Day, featuring the same lead character, CTU agent Jack Bauer, fighting terrorism threats. Fox, Gordon and Imagine then teamed for 24: Legacy, a new installment in the franchise that again was set at CTU but revolved around a new cast of characters, led by Corey Hawkings.

At Fox, Imagine TV also has flagship drama series Empire and new soapy family drama project Filthy Rich, from The Help writer-director Tate Taylor, which has a put pilot commitment. Imagine and Doner are repped by CAA, with Doner also repped by attorneys Carlos Goodman and Greg Slewett.

Gordon has two put pilot commitments at Fox. One is Classified, an hourlong drama with Marc Guggenheim, and the other is Nightfall, with Sheldon Turner and Jennifer Klein. He also has a medical drama written by Jason Horwitch, and drama Headshot executive produced by Sanaa Hamri, both with script commitment plus penalty. He is repped by WME and Gendler Kelly.

[Rastus]

Well, you have a homo lead in Penguin. I haven’t watched since he fantasized about making out with Riddler. Why does that even have to be a sentence?

[Baynative]

Let it go, indeed. What did that last attempt last for...three episodes? The only way they can try to fool an audience is with more filming in the dark, but of course that makes it unwatchable.

They could bring back Jack, but he's sold out to a liberal script on a show no one watches anymore so ....JUST LET IT GO

[fatima]

Er no.Let’s do the new American Idol :)

[Road Warrior ‘04]

Nope!

[Duchess47]

I think you’ve got that pegged right. :)

[Yaelle]

Wow. I’m wiped out from your post as if I’d just seen the whole spellbinding Season MXXICVII of “24: Social Justice” or as it will be called then, Vente Quattro.

And yes, her name will be Bailey or Harley. And the evil terrorist will be a misunderstood Uzbeki with learning differences.

[Yaelle]

Plus I always thought about what the characters’ breath would be like after a straight 24 hours on the job!

---

I was more concerned for their UTIs from never taking a pee!

[I Drive Too Fast]

Well that haven’t tried the transgender route yet. During this season you would see Jane who identifies as a man going to the bathroom. The question would be which one does she(he) choose?

[Political Junkie Too]

How about 24:Casting Couch. Our female prosecutor hero races the clock to find a missing 17 year-old girl who lied about her age, who was last seen with a Hollywood mogul producer.

Star-studded cameo appearances abound where well-known celebrities get to virtue-signal how awful it is, if only she had been truthful about her age, it must have been someone else, maybe he's being blackmailed...

-PJ

[luvie]

These guys ain’t no Jack Bauer! I can’t watch it....tooooo painful!

[Yaelle]

If the series is going to be 24: Hours on the Casting Couch, it must be Tony playing the Harvey Weinstein character. Tony is at least cute. No potted plants on set please.

[hattend]

Bring back Kim Bauer as a pole dancer who solves crimes, topless.

[silent_jonny]

Vente Quattro?

You been to Ireland again, chica--I mean, lass? :)

Sheesh, they might actually call this "24: Social Justice"--don't give them any ideas!

And the evil terrorist will be a misunderstood Uzbeki with learning differences.

Of course. It will also be revealed (in the tradition of all past seasons of 24) that an evil white corporation was behind it all. In this case, Home Depot, who knowingly rented the Uzbecki a dangerous, fossil-fuel burning vehicle that couldn't be controlled. The truck literally drove itself onto the bike path!

The ISIS flag and paintball guns? Uhhhh, well ... They were planted in the vehicle by the police, under direct orders from President Trump. Yes, that's the ticket ...

[Political Junkie Too]

24: Hours on the Casting Couch

Sponsored by... Viagra.

-PJ

[Political Junkie Too]

Home Depot, who knowingly rented the Uzbecki a dangerous, fossil-fuel burning vehicle

And it was the unassuming, well-meaning, family-oriented "day-laborers" who were lingering outside in the shadows who provided the eye-witness descriptions of the baddies in exchange for life on the government dole in the witness protection program!

-PJ

[silent_jonny]

Well that haven’t tried the transgender route yet. During this season you would see Jane who identifies as a man going to the bathroom. The question would be which one does she(he) choose?

Yes! So many great ideas.

This episode would end with the classic 24 split screen as Mary Kate Lawyergoodgal attempts to use a public restroom--but stops. Which restroom will she choose??

The one she was assigned by birth (pfft). Or the one her politically correct colleagues would approve?

The suspense--like the pressure on her bladder--is unbearable!

[HamiltonJay]

Anyone who’s ever been involved in the legal system knows, NOTHING happens in 24 hours when it comes to lawyers and the law... the would have to change the formate to 24 months, not 24 hours.

[Yaelle]

You been to Ireland again, chica—I mean, lass? :)

---

Puffy Jimmy APPROPRIATED the culture of a Irishman. Vente Quatro would need to be true to actual Hispanic culture. So it would be filmed in LA with a community of undocumented residents. The only reason the Crips and Bloods season didn’t work was they weren’t gritty enough. So our new hero will be a full member of Mara Salvatrucha. “Bauerito’s gonna need a bigger hacksaw, ese.”

[Yaelle]

RE your great transgender idea for Bauer, which would greatly please the network:

And wonderful disguises! “They” could dress as whatever their gender felt most like on that day! Name of the season: “24: Transition” with the genderless star of Billions as the hero (“They” play genderless on the show and is/are genderless in real life too) Jaki Bauer, and John Travolta playing a serious male President who secretly dresses in makeup, high heels, and feather boas on weekends.

Yes, there would be singing.

[luvie]

OMG!! Can’t believe I missed all of THAT! LOL!

ffffft is right! ;)

Want. Jack. Back.