24 fans, the wait for a feature film just got a bit longer.  According to EW, 20th Century Fox has turned down the 24 movie script penned by Billy Ray (State of Play).  The show’s long-time executive producer Howard Gordon commented on the matter.  “As far as I know, it is in suspended animation,” said Gordon. “There is talk about re-approaching it. I understand [director/producer] Tony Scott is meeting with Kiefer [Sutherland] to talk about ideas. People are still talking about it.”  He continued, “I was disapppointed [Fox] passed on the script but I’m certainly hopeful that the movie will get made at some point. Anecdotally, I’ve heard from people who are really missing the show and I do think there is more life in Jack Bauer.”

Back when FOX the network announced that season eight would be the last for the series, star Kiefer Sutherland shared his excitement over the possibility of making a 24 movie.  “We wanted to create a definitive end for Jack Bauer,” said Sutherland.  Since we do have the intention to make the feature film, it would lead into that and certainly set that up.  Something we’ve dealt with in the series is how the crisis always has to come to us because we don’t have time to move anywhere in a real time world.  In a two-hour (movie) representation of the 24 world, planes, trains, and automobiles all of a sudden become a factor because you are not required to go scene by scene in real time. That’s something I can say I am very excited about.”

Although the script was thrown out, this isn’t all bad news.  At least we’re receiving assurance that Gordon, Sutherland, and Tony Scott are still in talks about it.  The wait for it got longer, but there’s still hope a 24 movie will get made.  No word if Billy Ray will be replaced with a new screenwriter.

[Via EW]