FOX Announces 24 Prequel

BURBANK, May 15: FOX has
announced plans to air a two-hour prequel for 24 ahead of the seventh-season launch, which was
disrupted this year as a result of the writers’ strike.

Season seven of 24 was due to launch in January, but was pushed back
to January 2009. Leading up to the new season launch, on November 23 at 8 p.m.
FOX will air a special prequel, shot on location in South Africa, where Jack
Bauer battles an international crisis while the U.S. is preparing for a new
president on inauguration day.

“We're excited about the
prequel because it explores Jack's complex emotional state of mind and still
has all the signature excitement and suspense that fans have come to expect
from 24,” commented executive producer Howard Gordon. “Shooting in South Africa
affirms everyone’s commitment to making this season especially memorable for
our fans.”

Celebrating its 150th
episode this season, the series has resumed production on “Day 7” and will
unfold without interruption in its regular time period of Mondays at 9 p.m.
beginning in January. Set in Washington, D.C., “Day 7” finds CTU dismantled and
Jack Bauer on trial.

—By Mansha Daswani