Season eight of the award-winning real-time drama 24 will be premiering early next year and after watching this short teaser trailer (YouTube video below), it certainly lives up to its reputation with more action and thrills in the company of Jack Bauer.
The new eighth day will start at 4.00 pm in a new location, New York City. After six seasons in Los Angeles and the previous season in Washington DC, the latest terrorist threat has shifted to the Big Apple.
The story arc will involve Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) contending with assassination threats made during a peace conference between President Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones) of the United States and President Omar Hassan (Anil Kapoor) of the fictional Islamic Republic of Kamistan.
In a recent interview with the star Kiefer Sutherland confirmed that season eight will take place within very close proximity to the closing events of season seven, and is likely to be the show’s final season. He stated “there’s only so much you can do to Jack (Bauer) before you lose realism. I think a movie would be a good way to end this story.”
SPOILER ALERT! DETAIL-BY-DETAIL ACCOUNT ON SEASON EIGHT FROM FOX. DO NOT CLICK MORE TO AVOID THE UPCOMING SEASON OF 24.
Kiefer Sutherland, who talked to Entertainment Tonight and spilled some bits about what we should expect in the new season, which premieres in January. “One of the things that’s exciting about season eight for us, which is different from all the other seasons is it’s directly connected to the end of season seven,” he said. “Normally there’s a year or two break between seasons, between story lines–and this year that is not the case.”
And the fact that they’re shooting in New York has given the series a boost of sorts, too. “There’s a real tangible energy you can’t deny that about New York City,” he said. “The situations have always made Jack Bauer speak really quickly, and now he runs really quickly because in New York you’ve got to do that.”
The latest season, he says, has the most realistic storyline they’ve done in the show. “It centres around peace conferences taking place at the UN between the president of Iran and the President of the United States, which I believe is possible within the next few years,” he told TV Guide Magazine. “Obviously there will be a lot of people who will want to fight that. This is about fighting off that threat to peace.”
Switching back to ET, there’s Freddie Prinze Jr., who takes a serious turn as new CTU agent Cole Ortiz. (Note, the name was changed from when it was first announced.) “It’s trial by fire, but it’s good so far,” he told the show. “It’s been a lot of fun. I’m scared to say it’s the best job I’ve ever had, but right now, it feels like the best job I’ve ever had.”
In a separate interview with TV Guide Magazine, he spills a bit about what his character is about to face–and while most of it’s stuff we already know, well, here it is anyway. “There’s a moment between my character, who runs field ops, and [Katee Sackhoff’s] character, Dana Walsh, who runs the tech side of things,” he said. “They’re engaged and it’s difficult having a relationship at work when the stakes are so high. They’re having some problems that I really can’t get into. You see that somebody’s holding things back–maybe she has a secret which he has to concern himself with. He’s a Marine and he bases everything on having a plan with a coordinated attack. There’s an interesting dynamic on how he’s going to deal with her.”
Also talking to the magazine is Anil Kapoor, the first high-profile new member of this season’s cast: the Slumdog Millionaire star will play Middle Eastern politician Omar Hassan. “I have one scene in a car with my bodyguard,” he said. “Suddenly I’m sending messages to my country to say people [behind an assassination attempt on his character’s life] have to be taken to task and arrested. I can sense that the bodyguard is uncomfortable and the way that the scene progresses is very dramatic. I speak about the peace process, my younger brother Akbar and my family. It’s a catharsis for my character.”
Speaking of a family, he’s got his family and another girlfriend.
Finally, Mary Lynn Rajskub hints at some problems ego-wise at the resurrected CTU. “Chloe is not up to speed in the new CTU, which is very different for her,” she said. “[Katee] plays my new boss, and she kind of pats me on the shoulder and says, ‘Don’t worry – you’ll catch up,’ which is the worst moment for Chloe ever. Everything’s changed at CTU and my bosses are looking at me like I’m not doing it right. But then something happens in the story where I think I know some information which pits me at odds with my bosses.”
Must be something with the new CTU offices, which is “like a spaceship,” Rajskub said. “It’s sleek with a lot of glass, and underground with a tunnel you drive through to get into it. I feel kind of like Batgirl.”
Source: Fox.com
It all sounds great and I am definitely looking forward to see Jack Bauer saving the day once again!
Follow on the latest developments on 24 via the official website here: http://www.fox.com/24/
Season eight is revealed during this year’s Comic Con. See the video link here:
http://www.fox.com/fod/play.php?sh=twentyfour&ep=1250897747605
As to when the new series will start, in America it will be January 17 2010. For the UK, Sky 1 will be broadcasting the new series but at the time of writing, no details as to when…
Check out Sky’s website dedicated to 24 here: http://sky1.sky.com/show/24
From the trailer, it certainly seems like this will be at least Jacks last day. TBO it should be 24’s last ever day. I’m sick and tired of the ever escalating terrorists threats. Day One was just an attack on president elect David Palmer. Now it’s world domination and all that crap and HUGE companies as just a front for blowing shit up. Oh and my biggest and most hated thing about the recent seasons, is the double crossing/informer that just so happens to get employed in the highest security places. I hate it soooo much, it’s just plain lazy writing and means they can do anything they want. All I’ve done for the last few seasons is try and guess who the ‘inside man/woman’ is and that REALLY shouldn’t happen year on year. The only time it worked was Nina Myers and guess what? Yep it back in the good old days of season 1 and 2.
Still, I really enjoy the show no matter, it’s less so recently. I think the change of scenery will help especially if it’s city based. All the other locations despite being based in LA were mainly on the outskirts and industrial estates. despite the shows format which meant, it always had good pacing, the bare locations and endless traveling, did slow the show some. It needs to get back to it’s roots and keep it central. Well more so anyways, since it’s in real time, it has always been ‘central’.
The thing is, after the last season where by we had no CTU, it looked as though it could have been great. CTU got waaaay to clever and convenient and just got boring as nothing couldn’t be done. I mean commanding a million satellites within minutes? Puhlease! But the way last season was written, it still didn’t work either, so I just about prefer CTU being back. Though for them to be dragged through the mud and dismantled, and now back and running is stupid and would never happen. In this day and age and counter terrorist unit being shut down? rubbish.
But as I said, I still look forward to the show, and despite no date being given for the UK, it wont be more than 1 or 2 weeks behind i can guarantee that. It’s been like that for a few years now, and with Flash Forward and House only being one week in front in the States, FINALLY, the TV studios are realising that if they want to stop people from downloading shows, then stop showing them months after they’ve been on in the USA.
The big question is, will I watch it on TV or wait for the Blu Ray release and go ape and get it all in over a few day. This year was the first time I’ve watched it on TV and I have to say, I didn’t like it. Waiting for a week before we got to see the cliffhanger answered was horrid, and was a great reminder as to why I have always waited for the DVD release. In the early years it was better as the DVD came out during our shutdown at work in August. Season 3 was watched in a little over 2 days!!!!! Hey I was single and had nothing else to do. Now though it’s not out till October/November so it is a long wait. waiting also means I cannot talk to Elton out it! So i dunno, but atm, I might go back to waiting for months. I’ve done the same for so many other series. House, Fringe Frasier back in the day and have only just got into The Wire, so I have 5 seasons to watch as quick as! Next will be The Shield, so it’s in my blood to wait.
So we’ll wait and see. I’ll feel out the first few episodes and see how it goes.
Oh and FOX? DO NOT replace Jack. The show will die in it’s arse if you do. Day 8, no day 9.
Oh and for the love of God Jack, DO NOT ware that stupid long beige rain-coat (?) you had on for the start of last season. Terrible!
Thanks for the comment Nigel. Great to hear you are watching The Wire on DVD as this is the best quality drama outside 24 world! Regarding the past seven years of Jack Bauer’s nightmare day, I still prefer the first season compare to the others as the format of split-screen, real-time action was fresh and exciting. Okay, at the half-way point of Day One it got ridiculous with Teri (Jack’s late wife) losing her memory and Kim (their daughter) keeps getting kidnapped… But the threat of Senate Palmer was believable.
I do miss the characters of Michelle, Bill, Audery, Mason, David and Sherry Palmer as each had an important role to play, be it at the White House or at the pressure-environment of CTU. Was it a big mistake by the writers to kill off these strong characters to shock 24 fans? Hmm… that’s debatable but at least the strong duo featuring that supreme computer operator (Chloe) and the all-American action hero who never goes to sleep or require the toilet (Jack) remains.
As to when Sky 1 will broadcast the new series next year, fingers cross it will be only a few weeks after the US transmission. Don’t like the idea to wait around a couple of months or else I will be forced to download!
Agree, ever since the Palmers were killed off, the series was never as good. Each season has had it’s ‘oh come one!’ moments of course. It’s a shame that when I went to watch the first one again a few months ago, it looked so bad! ONly got few episodes in and got sidetracked so may try and watch again sometime soon. Though as mentioned, The Wire is taking my time atm which is freaking awesome.
I think the writers of 24 made the mistake that thinking bigger is better and trying to emulate all the good stuff early on. We dont need bigger and shock double crosses. Just a good story with interesting characters, and not stratospheric danger. What made the first so great was it was Jack saving ONE man, not millions but just one guy. Yes the concept was so new and ground breaking which of course lies fondly with us all and after 7 days, it’s hard to get exited about the actual concept now. However just ramping up the danger and the tech is not the way to go to sustain. Its a very clever concept, so you need to stay clever on the story, which they have failed completely in recent seasons.
So we wait with baited breath for next year I guess and the film to follow. I actually think the film could work really well. Now that the show format has been gotten used to, for me at least its been about the pacing and what Jack will do next and this can easily still be done in a film environment. It can work without the ticking clock I think.