The trials and tribulations of Jack Bauer have come to an end, so what’s next for the incredible actor who played our nation’s hero for eight years? In a surprising move, Kiefer Sutherland has decided to test the Internet waters in an upcoming web series produced by Sutherland, Chris Young, Joseph Gomes, and Maura Mandt. It’s called The Confession and Sutherland stars as “a hitman who has a theological discussion with a priest (played by English actor John Hurt) about why his victims deserved to die.” The series, written and directed by Brad Mirman, was shot in New York during the snow storm last month over nine days.
Sutherland shared with EW his excitement about this new project. The origin story: “It came about in such a different way,” Sutherland said. “I was meeting a couple friends of mine, who wanted to introduce me to Chris Young (of Digital Broadcasting Group). I know so little about the internet, but that’s what a lot of friends do for work. Most of that stuff being produced for the internet is comedy, very much like Jackass kind of material, which is great but didn’t appeal to me. Chris started talking about wanting to do a drama, but his criteria was so different. A drama in five-minute episodes! It was one of those things, like a puzzle over the course of the lunch. It can’t be that complicated to figure out a story in five minutes, right? I couldn’t, and it frustrated the crap out of me. So I went home that night, still thinking about it, and it stayed with me for three days. I was falling asleep when I literally got this idea of a confessional.”
He thinks that creative content distributed over the Internet is the wave of the future. “None of us were paid what we normally get paid,” Sutherland admitted. “Everybody found their own challenge in it, and that was the reason to do it. All of us believe very strongly that the internet is the future, the largest network in world, with the ability to reach a big audience.”
In a press statement producer Chris Young had this to say. “The Confession sets a precedent for what is possible in original webisodic content. Never before has something of this magnitude and motion picture quality come to the third screen. I’m thrilled to be working with such A-list talent and top-tier sponsors to finally capture and crystallize the seismic shift in how content of this caliber is released, distributed and enjoyed by an audience that will rival that of a hit television series.”
With 24 wrapped and The Confession nearly ready for its online debut, what’s next for Sutherland? He hints that he’s not ready to leave the magical land that is primetime TV just yet. “We have a couple ideas we are working on that we are very excited about,” he said. 24 was a lot of work, it certainly had its ups and downs. But for so many reasons, it was one of the great experiences of my life. I miss the daily grind of it, which I was surprised about because that’s the one thing you complain about all the time. Be careful what you ask for!” Thankfully EW had to courage to ask him about the current status of the 24 feature film. Sutherland calls it “the little engine that could” and that he has not stopped discussing it with director Tony Scott (Man on Fire). Recently studio-backer 20th Century Fox turned down Billy Ray’s script for the movie, and Sutherland addressed this. “Billy did a fantastic job and there are aspects of that story [that will remain]. I couldn’t be more thrilled.” Slowly but surely, this thing’s happening people.
The Confession will stream on Hulu this March in 10 five-to-seven-minute webisodes. Expect “action-packed flashbacks” and an ending “with one helluva twist”, according to EW. Bauer’s about to rock the ‘Net.
[Via EW]