Howard Gordon Responds to Kiefer Sutherland on ‘24’ Revival Talks

Howard Gordon, the executive producer and showrunner of 24, spoke with Deadline about recent comments from Kiefer Sutherland regarding a potential revival of the real-time thriller series.

Gordon discussed his current projects, his move into streaming, and his thoughts on returning to the political and spy thriller genre. He also addressed Sutherland’s excitement about bringing Jack Bauer back.

“Howard Gordon has come up with an idea that I like,” Sutherland told a radio interviewer. “Something has been written, I think it’s really good.”

He added that the project still needs approval, saying it “has to go through different channels before it’s either approved or disapproved,” but confirmed, “like everybody else, it’s something I would really like to do. I would like to close that story. It was left kind of wide open. So, fingers crossed. There’s a chance. We’ve taken some considerable steps forward.”

Gordon confirmed that a revival is being developed but cautioned that nothing is finalized. “It’s absolutely in process, there’s something we are developing. They, meaning Disney and such, have not committed to it, so it still is a process,” he said.

Over the years, he explained, there have been several attempts to expand the 24 universe, including potential spin-offs with other actors and pitches from outside writers. “I have such a nostalgia for that show, and I think Kiefer does too. One thing we couldn’t figure out for a long time was a direction that ever held water, that sustained itself. This feels like it could be, but it’s not formal, it’s not done,” Gordon added.

He also shared his personal approach to returning to the series. “What I really don’t want to happen is that it’s not good because I don’t think that’s fair to the show. It’s not fair to the fans, not fair to, frankly, to myself. So it has to be something that you connect to, or at least you tell yourself you’re connected to. It may not turn out very well, but you have to at least believe that it’s something.”

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