Kiefer Sutherland is done being Jack Bauer on 24… no, for real this time

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Kiefer Sutherland is finally done as Jack Bauer.

Yeah, I know he’s said that on a few occasions before, but this time he seriously means it. He said “definitely” and everything.

Talking with the BBC, Sutherland put the kibosh on any future appearances as Jack Bauer, even as Fox examines plans to keep the franchise alive, perhaps with a younger agent saving the day pretty regularly as the clock counts down.

24 is definitely over now for me.It’s one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever been given as an actor, but it’s moving on without me, I want to do other things.

There had been talk of Sutherland perhaps popping up from time to time as Bauer, serving in a recurring capacity to help pass the torch to whoever is next in the line of fire. That no longer seems to be the case. Instead Sutherland would like to do more television… just something different… and is willing to wait around for the right project to surface in order to take advantage.

I don’t think there’s a better medium than television out there at the moment. So think I want to do more of it and look for projects where I can repeat my experience.

You have to take your time though to find something like it – and that means you have to work less. So I’ll be waiting for something that’s worth it, with the potential for the kind of audience access that 24 had.

That should put an end to any talk of a 24 movie as well, because what’s a 24 movie without Jack Bauer? This should be good for both Sutherland and 24. While 24 had some truly solid seasons, it became difficult to buy in after awhile that all of this was happening over and over again with the same guy right smack in the middle of it. It’s like DIE HARD. After awhile, you just wonder how anyone can have John McClane’s bad luck in drawing these short straws, and the suspension of disbelief becomes a tough pill to swallow.

Farewell for good this time, Jack Bauer. We all thank you for your service.