The 24 Movie Reboot Totally Misunderstands The Point Of The TV Show

Now that 24 has built a large following from its 9-season-long run, Kiefer Sutherland’s show is getting a movie adaptation, but this new project dishonors the exact element that makes the series special. 20th Century Studios has confirmed the 24 movie, yet key details about the production have not been unveiled. Since its premiere in 2001, the series has undergone numerous cast changes and dramatic plot pivots. While the franchise has previously expanded with a television special and a spin-off show, putting the counter-terrorist team on the big screen is the most ambitious 24 undertaking yet.

The lack of information about the newest 24 adaptation has created uncertainty about the future of the franchise. Although Kiefer Sutherland has talked about possibly returning, viewers are still wondering whether Jack Bauer will feature in a full feature-length film. Even if Jack Bauer makes a massive movie return, his decade-long absence creates potential challenges for the story’s direction. However, the biggest concerns relate to how the franchise will be able to capture the very component of the series that distinguishes it from all the other action shows.

24’s Movie Will Struggle To Replicate The TV Show’s Real-Time Narrative

The Structure Of 24 Cannot Be Easily Condensed Into A Single Film

24’s premise relies on its experimental style, in which events happen in real time so that each 24-episode season takes place over the span of one day. This approach gives the action-packed saga a sense of urgency by making viewers feel the same pressure as the agents facing extreme situations. Without immersing the audience in a true-to-reality timeline, the movie will struggle to capture the same heightened energy that pushes characters to their psychological, physical, and personal limits. Though the film could try replicating the format, limiting 24‘s scope to two hours would lessen the stakes of whatever danger arises.

Related

Jack Bauer’s 10 Best Scenes In 24, Ranked

Jack Bauer consistently escalates tension in every season of 24, but certain moments stand out as his best in the series.

24 Without The Real-Time Element Risks Becoming A Generic Spy Thriller

The Ever-Present Anxiety Around Time Is What Shapes The Entire Story

With every episode projecting a stress-inducing clock, 24 uses time to mold perception. Features of every season, such as Jack Bauer killing multiple main characters, give viewers the understandable impression that they have real insight into his personality. The truth, however, is that he has technically only had 9 days of his life on view. This discrepancy adds complexity to the Jack Bauer persona by providing less information about his life beyond 24, making him more mysterious than a typical hero. Cramming the characters into a traditional film structure would reveal too much of their motivations, forcing them into generic thriller tropes.

The confirmed 24 movie adaptation is at risk of cheapening the whole franchise because the story has always been dependent on real-time narration. Since a 24-hour-long movie or a project titled “2.4” seems unlikely to be developed, the production will likely have to stray from the timer trick that helped the show transform television from its 2001 inception. As studios mass-produce action flicks that fulfill box-office goals but fail to advance the genre, the 24 franchise should stay faithful to its standout structure if it wants to have an impact that lasts longer than 24 hours.