In mid-April, we reported that the '24' producers were studying potential story lines for the seventh season of the FOX hit series, one featuring Quebec's separatists. About two weeks later, it was confirmed that Jack would go through his next action-packed awful day in a different scenery. In early July, we learned that writers had planned to have the action set in Africa and the U.S. but that the network sent them back to the drawing board because that story line would be too expensive. Eventually, official spoilers started to leak and FOX announced the names of actors joining the show (more after the jump). But yesterday, FOX sent out a press release so juicy that it had some people pinch themselves to make sure they weren't dreaming!
Spoilers after the jump!
But before we get to the information revealed in the press release, let's review what was confirmed over the summer:
- Veteran actress Cherry Jones was cast as the president of the U.S.
- The First Husband would be played by Colm Feore.
- Janeane Garofalo would play an FBI agent who is tasked to investigate Jack Bauer and other ex-CTU personnel. On her team is an agent named Larry played by Jeffrey Nordling.
- John Billingsley joined as Latham, a recurring character.
- In the premiere, Jack will hunt down Gabriel Schecter for information. This upscale man in his early 40s is a supplier of illegal contraband.
- One of the story lines of Season 7 will revolve around the death of the First Son, Roger. His death was classified as a suicide but his father, Henry, believes it was murder and wants to prove it.
So what does the press release reveal?
- With CTU dismantled, the show's setting moves to Washington, D.C..
- Jack Bauer faces trial for his actions in the pursuit of justice.
- Bauer's day gets off to a shocking start when former colleague Tony Almeida, last seen in "Day 5," returns after being left for dead by a terrorist conspirator in CTU's infirmary. Show-runner Howard Gordon says that since the fate of Tony wasn't clear, it opened a door for them to bring him back.
- The president and her husband are named Allison and Henry Taylor.
- Bob Gunton will play Ethan Kanin, the White House Chief of Staff.
- Other FBI agents assigned to investigate Jack are: Annie Wersching as Renee Walker and Rhys Coiro as Sean Hillinger. The press release reveals that Garofalo's character is named Janis Gold and that the last name of Nordling's character is Moss.
- More details are given about Billingsley character: Latham is a security specialist whose first name is Michael.
- Chloe and Buchanan return.
Personally, I'm happy with Tony's return. I always liked the character and would have watched a spin-off with him as the lead if it had ever happened as rumored. I hope that the writers make his return believable and give his role some meat. You cannot bring back such an important character without him being critical to the plot. I hope he does more than answer questions from the FBI agents! I want him on the field with Jack.
"Day 7" of '24' will premiere on Sunday, January 13 from 8 to 10PM It will then air in its Monday at 9PM timeslot starting January 14. New episodes will air every week through June.
Doctor Who panel - Comic-Con Report
NBC's Kings panel - Comic-Con Report
The Dharma Initiative wants you - VIDEO - Comic-Con Report
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
9-20-2007 @ 12:38PM
Hugeliver said...
SWEET!! Tony's back and it actually sounds interesting.
They have a LOT to make up for after last season.
Looking forward to seeing all my TV Squadders again too. : )
Reply
9-20-2007 @ 12:54PM
JLTorrente said...
As much as i liked Tony, he was dead, get over it... if people agreed with that comeback, they will revive edgar and even george mason (one of my favorites characters ever!) and te show is going to became Buffy vs the terrorist but without the hot lesbian witches
Reply
9-20-2007 @ 1:01PM
C C said...
My first impression after looking over the info on next season is that they're going to use some kind of flashback technique. The season supposedly opens with Jack on trial, forced to defend his previous actions. What if he's having to recall the events of another day that got him into this predicament?
Here's how next season might shake down:
It's two seasons in one. I'll call the "Jack on trial" season Day 8. The flashbacks will be Day 7. Day 7 will have taken place a short time after Day 6, providing some reasonable answers for last season's loonyness. Tony's "resurrection" happens in Day 7-and there will be an explanation of how Allison Taylor, the president in Day 8, gets into office.
Reply
9-20-2007 @ 1:16PM
SamMalone said...
It just might take hot lesbian witches to get me to watch this show again!
Reply
9-20-2007 @ 1:22PM
SimplyKimberly said...
Fan-freaking-tastic!
They never should have killed him in the first place.
I now have the same level of excitement for 24 as I had before Season 5's bloodbath. All is right in 24 again.
Reply
9-20-2007 @ 1:32PM
hugeliver said...
SWEET!
Reply
9-20-2007 @ 2:15PM
khamel said...
i love 24, its at the top of my huge season pass and i even watched all last season but this is stupid. i was as sad as the next guy when tony died, and now to hear that hes alive is ridiculous. if its more like season 5 then season 6 then i wont mind but still, tony was dead.
Reply
9-20-2007 @ 3:18PM
Carl said...
I'm with most people in the "It's ridiculous/awesome at the same time camp". Can a show do a reverse Shark Jump? If it takes one last act of ridiculousness to return the show to at least some of it's Day 1 and Day 4 style, I'm all for it.
Reply
9-20-2007 @ 8:03PM
kip said...
if nina meyer comes back or curtis .....
Reply
9-21-2007 @ 9:12AM
Truth said...
On the official FOX website it says "Tony dies in Jack’s arms." http://fox.com/24/character/season5/ta.htm
Reply
9-21-2007 @ 9:14AM
Isabelle Carreau said...
Truth: Yep, all that was revealed during S5 was that he indeed died. I think that back then, they didn't know they would bring him back.
Reply
9-22-2007 @ 2:24AM
Nabby said...
Cur Tis Cur Tis Cur Tis. It was just a flesh wound folks. Jack wouldn't kill his best buddy. Let's start a Jericho-style "send nuts" to Fox campaign until our Man Curtis is back... along with Tony's wife, and the first President Palmer, and maybe that nifty cougar from that earlier season.
Reply
9-22-2007 @ 2:11PM
Marcia said...
Sounds really good, except for Janene Garafolo. Cannot stomach that woman. We will see how big her part is. If there is too much of her, bye bye 24.
Reply
9-22-2007 @ 2:19PM
john said...
will tony still have his Cubs mug???
Reply
9-22-2007 @ 2:37PM
ummmm.... said...
What got me watching the show was the realistic actions of people that we like dying (with the exception of Jack, he's like a super-hero in the show). Tony was dead, surprising yes, but can't we find someone else to like and kill. Why can't Tony have a twin (like in the daytime soaps)? If we are bringing them back from the dead, what's next???
Reply
9-22-2007 @ 2:45PM
Rus Carr said...
I am so happy Tony is coming back, I cried when he died. He and Jack are the whole show with Chloe close third.
Rus
Reply
9-22-2007 @ 2:50PM
Dnanniedot said...
I have been waiting for this great announcement. "Jack is back"! I was worried that "24" would not make the cut and I am so very pleased that it did. Tony did not die. He just passed out. Glad to know Chole will be back and Buchanan. Sorry they saw fit to kill Michelle. I like her.
Reply
9-22-2007 @ 3:01PM
cathy said...
this is why i never started watching to confusingto watch all the time or your lost.otherwise im sure a great show
Reply
9-22-2007 @ 3:03PM
AllTerroristsMustDie said...
I'm still waiting for the writers to go back and give me a proper Day Six; I want them to rewrite everything after episode four. I loved it when soft-spoken Tony bought it, I thought it was one of the most poignant scenes in the series and now in their desperation to save this formerly amazing show, the writers are going to tear down Season Five by turning the show into a science fiction. Un-be-lievable. 24 has taken a turn for the worst, Galactica has, LOST has, House has, all I have now is Boston Legal and Heroes.
Inter arma enim silent leges,
ATMD
Reply
9-22-2007 @ 3:14PM
Bubba said...
""Show-runner Howard Gordon says that since the fate of Tony wasn't clear, it opened a door for them to bring him back.""
Okay I like the idea that Tony will be back, but I dislike how they say the fate of Tony wasn't clear because it was clear. They showed them cover Tony's entire body in the beginning of the next episode after he died. Whoever heard of covering up a body from head to toe and call that "unclear" of being dead? The show will be better now with Tony back but it'll be better at the same time being so unrealistic.
Reply