Will ‘Designated Survivor’ Actor Kiefer Sutherland Ever Play Jack Bauer In Fox’s ’24: Legacy’? Star Hints At Reprising Iconic Role For Movie

Adweek cover photo — “Designated Survivor” actor Kiefer Sutherland addresses rumors on whether he will reprise his famous Jack Bauer role on TV. Randall Slavin in Los Angeles for Adweek

Canadian actor Kiefer Sutherland will be back on TV this fall in ABC’s new political thriller series “Designated Survivor” in which he plays a Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Tom Kirkman. But before the Emmy award winner took a role in this fall’s most anticipated TV series, he rose of fame by playing CTU (Counter Terrorist Unit) Agent Jack Bauer for a whooping nine seasons on Fox’s “24” and “24: Live Another Day.”

Although the 49-year-old actor had landed several acting roles in Hollywood prior to bagging a role in the Fox series, it was his superb portrayal of Bauer that made him a household name and ensured millions of audiences tuned in to see him play the competent agent. So, will Sutherland ever reprise his “24” role?

In an interview with Adweek, while promoting “Designated Survivor,” Sutherland told the publication that he was approached by Fox to do a follow-up to the 2014 limited series event, “24: Live Another Day,” that centered on Bauer. The Golden Globe winner told the network no since they would be breaking a promise to fans of “24: Live Another Day” that it would be the last one.

Sutherland explained, “The whole hook to get an audience back to watch it [“24: LAD”] was, this is a onetime deal, so you should watch it — and then, when it worked out for us, go, oh, we decided to do another one? I don’t think that’s right. And how many bad days can one guy have before it starts to look stupid? Probably about seven, but we did nine!”

Gary Newman, co-CEO and co-chairman of Fox Television Group, confirmed Sutherland’s stance, “We love Kiefer so much. If he had wanted to do ‘24,’ we would have done a Jack Bauer version of it. But he felt it was time to rest that character.”

Nevertheless, Sutherland’s decision to never play Bauer on TV doesn’t mean we have seen the last of the ace agent. “I know never to say that. It doesn’t mean that we can’t make the [long-in-the-works 24] film,” the “Designated Survivor” star mused, “It’s a character that I love until the day I die.”

Sutherland also clarified that he has no plans of returning as Bauer on TV again.

Here’s hoping that a Jack Bauer movie is made soon.