Active discussions are underway at Fox to bring back popular action-crime drama, 24. Created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran and top lined by Kiefer Sutherland - whose individual 24-hour long counter terrorist operations as agent Jack Bauer were covered in each season - 24 began airing on Fox in November 2001. The series ran for 8 seasons until May 2010, with the limited TV event, 24: Live Another Day, following up on the finale in 2014. Throughout its run, 24 received acclaim from both critics and audiences, and the overwhelmingly positive reception helped the series bring home several accolades, including a Golden Globe for Best Drama in 2004, as well as a Primetime Emmy in 2006. 24 is currently the longest-running US espionage themed drama, and although its been away from TV for several years, it remains quite popular in syndication.

Over the years, 24's success has spawned multiple projects based within the franchise. Of course, there was the limited ninth season, but even apart from that, the show has found other ways to thrive. In 2008, for instance, the show aired the TV film. 24: Redemption, which bridged seasons 6 and 7. And even after the show ended, the franchise was able to continue through the spin-off series, 24: Legacy, which aired on Fox in 2017. There were even discussions about a possible feature film, although those plans were ultimately abandoned in 2012. Now, it again appears that talks about the future of the franchise have reignited at the network.

Related: Why 24 Never Resolved Never Behrooz's Fate In Season 4 (& What Happened To Him)

According to a report by Deadline, Fox Entertainment President Michael Thorn has confirmed that there is a possibility that 24 might "return in some form on the network." Thorn offered no explicit details on how and when would the comeback happen, but he still acknowledged that talks were ongoing with the original showrunners to revive the show. Thorn added that the producers already have a pitch, but he hasn't yet heard it, so he couldn't comment on the situation for now. Read what he said below:

“There’s still a possibility, there’s still some discussions with the producers on a take that we have yet to hear. There [are] some active creative discussions that are happening.”

Jack says goodbye to Chloe in 24 live another day finale.

This isn't the first time in recent years that the possibility of 24's return has surfaced. Earlier, the show's EP, Howard Gordon, had hinted that a new version of the show was "percolating," although he did not offer any substantial details as the word wasn't official. Before that, Fox had also considered the prospect of a 24 prequel, as a well as a potential legal-thriller spin-off, but they passed on the latter in 2019, before scrapping the former in early 2020. Still, talks remained active about continuing the franchise, and it now appears that they are culminating fruitfully.

Given the number of reboots and revivals on TV right now, the possibility of one happening for 24 isn't terribly far-fetched. In the past few years, fans' enthusiasm for 24: Live Another Day and the offshoot 24: Legacy has proven that even after all this time, there is still a decided interest in the series. There are people out there who are ready for more time-critical adventures, and if the creatives manage to get things right, they might also be able to capture the fancy of new audiences. Of course, the details about 24's return are pretty scant right now, so nothing can be said for sure about if bringing back the show is a good idea. But as long as the original visionaries are involved, there may be hope.

Next: How Kiefer Sutherland Wanted Jack To Die In 24: Live Another Day (& Why It Didn't Happen)

Source: Deadline