Comic Con is officially in full swing, and 24 took main stage earlier tonight.  Present were Kiefer Sutherland and Carlos Bernard, along with executive producer’s Jon Cassar, Howard Gordon and David Fury.  They spoke briefly about 24: Exile, their working relationships and the upcoming seventh season, but for now, I’ll just post about Exile.

Howard Gordon initially did not think that doing a two hour movie was a good idea, but after some prodding he came around to the idea.  The writers’ strike gave them time to work the kinks, and according to Kiefer, “When we went to Africa, we arguable had the best script we’ve ever had.”

When asked if he’s had a favourite episode to shoot, Kiefer exclaimed, “I have to tell you that the stuff we did in Africa is up there.”

24: Exile features Jack Bauer in Africa, stuck in the middle of a civil war, protecting a school that provides safety for past child soldiers.  Cast and crew seem really excited about 24: Exile, do you think the prequel is going to live up to lofty expectations fans have now that the show has been off the air for so long?

Come back to 24HQ tomorrow where I’ll tell you about how Carlos Bernard is a smart ass, and why we never see Jack Bauer take a bathroom break.

*Thanks to Nikki Katz for all the great Comic Con reporting.  You rock!

Photo’s of the panel coming soon! Until then, check out the official 24: Exile photo’s released by Fox.

Fox released cast photo’s of 24: Exile this week in conjunction with the TCA press tour.  To the right is Jack Bauer, rugged, handsome and determined.   Click the thumbnails for full size photo’s of Gil Bellows and Jon Voight.

24: Exile is “set and shot on location in Africa, Bauer and mentor CARL BENTON (Robert Carlyle) battle an international crisis, while here at home the nation prepares for a new president on inauguration day. Taking place just a few months before the new day dawns, U.S. State Department officer FRANK TRAMELL (Gil Bellows) and JONAS HODGES (Jon Voight) are pulling the strings that will set the stage and raise the stakes for Season Seven.”

An unofficial 24: Exile trailer has hit the internet.  Upon first watch you may be asking, why’s it unofficial?  Well, it was leaked by the production company that produced it on their website, it features a temporary narration track, and some pretty awful graphics. Odds are this was shown at this weeks TCA’s, but the official 24: Exile trailer will be shown at Comic Con on July 25th.  No matter what I say, I’m sure all you want is to check it out, so please do:

Despite the awful technical elements, the trailer does provide some insight into 24: Exile.  The movie is obviously based on the real life crisis of child soldiers in Africa.  Jack’s there to help an old friend, played by Robert Carlyle, who is running a school to help rescued child soldiers acclimate back into society.  It actually looks like it has serious potential, I mean in the span of two minutes Jack snaps a man’s neck with his feet and holds a gun up to a child (if only that child were Kim).

He’s no longer saving the government, he’s saving African children.  Madonna be damned.

It was announced yesterday that the title for the 24 season seven prequel to air in November, will be 24: Exile.  Kevin Reilly told reporters at FOX’s Summer Press Tour that the prequel would “act as both a self contained movie, and a precursor to the new season.”  He also added with some typical executive enthusiasm that it was going to “come back rockin’ and rollin, as well as being a really cool piece of business.”

Rumours are circulating that a trailer for 24: Exile will be unveiled at 24’s Comic Con panel on July 25th.

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24 co-executive producer Jon Cassar recently spoke to a South African television show while shooting the season seven prequel in Cape Town. Cassar spoke about the plot of the prequel and more importantly, how he got attacked by a lion. When in Africa….

Check out Cassar’s interview below:

DAMNIT. Korbi Ghosh from Zap2It has just broken my heart by breaking the news that Chloe will not appear in the 24 season 7 prequel at all. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

Ghosh also confirmed that Chloe won’t be pregnant when the show returns, but that’s not a shock to anyone who reads this blog, considering Chloe’s son Prescott will be between 3 and 4 when the show comes back in January. And considering most of Chloe’s scenes take place around a computer, it’s not hard to believe that the show will be able to hide Mary Lynn Rajskub’s real life bump entirely.

I really hope this doesn’t continue the trend set in season six with Chloe practically becoming an extra. The writer’s really lost focus of her character and either gave her absolutely nothing to do, or stuck her in the middle of the most absurd love story on Fox. Keep in mind that it’s the network that marries women off to millionaires, and pays uglies to have life altering plastic surgery.

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Image ©2006 Fox Broadcasting Co.

Bad ass, government hero, fashionista? The latest onset photo’s of Kiefer Sutherland shooting 24 in Africa featured Jack Bauer sporting a fashionable neck scarf. Now that he’s no longer required to uphold the CTU dress code of torture casual, Jack can express his inner Wintour with more than just a simple canvas Bauer Bag (yeah, you heard me, it’s a Bauer Bag, not a man purse).

One can’t help but wonder if Kiefer Sutherland’s personal liking of scarves was the reason one made its way onto Bauer’s neck, but either way Jack is looking good despite the inner torment.

What do you think, CTU Bauer or Africa Bauer style wise?

Image courtesy of Newscom

Shooting began in South Africa on June 4th for 24’s seventh season prequel, but it’s been so top secret, photo’s are just starting to appear online. Check out the following pictures of Kiefer Sutherland and Robert Carlyle filming the show taken this past week. Carlyle will be playing a mentor of Jack’s after he’s fled to South Africa, and ends up getting caught in the middle of an international crisis.

Images courtesy of NewsCom

It’s official, 24 has landed in Cape Town, South Africa to film the two hour season seven prequel.  Technical crew have been setting up for a shoot on an unfinished bridge, suspected to be used in a chase scene.

The show is also casting South African locals for bit parts, but the script is apparently so cryptic that those auditioning can’t even tell what the plot is. It’s only a matter of time before lots of location photo’s start leaking!

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Image details: “The Mighty Celt” Premiere served by picapp.com

Yesterday we got news that the 24 prequel would air on November 23rd, and now Michael Ausiello’s got exclusive prequel casting scoop that Robert Carlyle will co-star.  He’ll be playing Benton, a man described as Jack’s mentor in Africa.

Carlyle is best known for playing Gaz in the 1997 hit The Full Monty.  He also has a knack for playing rather crazy characters, so I wouldn’t be shocked if Jack’s mentor ends up as his enemy.  Seems like a 24 thing to do. 

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