3/6/2008

E. Van Dril

The prequel will bridge the show's two-year time gap.

It appears that Fox's *24* will be returning this fall, after all.  
  
The producers of the Emmy-winning series are developing a two-hour prequel to the upcoming seventh season, according to *HollywoodReporter.com*.  
  
The movie is designed to bridge the two-year time gap between seasons 6 and 7.  
  
Its airing is targeted for the fall of this year, leading up to the January return of the "real-time" drama. On Wednesday, producers began securing some of the show's key cast members for the film.  
  
Three days into the work stoppage, caused by the WGA strike, Fox decided against airing only eight episodes of the Kiefer Sutherland-starring drama.  
  
The layout of *24* is referred to as a closed arc, meaning that each season occurs in real time over a 24-hour period.  
  
The upcoming seventh season will be set in Washington and features Cherry Jones playing the first female president of the United States.