Fox’s real-time thriller remains a television favorite a quarter-century after its debut

Summary

– 24 premiered on Fox on November 6, 2001

– Kiefer Sutherland says he would like to reprise Jack Bauer

– No new season or release date has been confirmed

Twenty-five years ago, 24 introduced viewers to Jack Bauer, a counterterrorism agent whose days rarely went according to plan. The series premiered on Fox on November 6, 2001, bringing a real-time format and a relentless ticking clock to the action-drama genre.

Created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran, each season followed one day in Bauer’s life, with every episode covering an hour. The first season centered on a plot to assassinate presidential candidate David Palmer, while Bauer also faced threats to his family.

The show built urgency through split screens, overlapping storylines, and a clock that never stopped. Just as one crisis seemed to be over, another threat pushed Bauer into his next difficult decision.

Kiefer Sutherland anchored the series as Bauer, with Dennis Haysbert playing David Palmer, Carlos Bernard as Tony Almeida, and Sarah Clarke as Nina Myers. Elisha Cuthbert and Leslie Hope portrayed Kim and Teri Bauer, while Mary Lynn Rajskub later became a fan favorite as Chloe O’Brian.

Across eight seasons, 24 tackled assassination plots, nuclear threats, biological attacks, and conspiracies within the government. Its action was matched by stories about Bauer’s personal sacrifices and the moral consequences of his choices. The show’s depictions of interrogation and counterterrorism tactics also remain controversial.

The series won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in 2006, while Sutherland earned the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. The original run ended in 2010, followed by the limited series 24: Live Another Day in 2014 and the spinoff 24: Legacy in 2017.

Sutherland has not ruled out returning as Bauer. During a September 2026 appearance at FanX Salt Lake, he discussed an idea developed with longtime producer Howard Gordon and said he would like to play the character again.

No new season has been confirmed, and there is no release date. Still, Sutherland’s interest leaves open the possibility of another chapter for Bauer, whose story was left unresolved at the end of 24: Live Another Day.

Twenty-five years after its premiere, 24 remains a distinctive television thriller, and fans could still see Jack Bauer take on one more mission.