Earlier this year, it was being reported that Fox’s chances of getting a 24 movie off the ground were quickly approaching nil. It had taken a few years to come up with a decent script that everyone could agree on and then things were complicated further by Kiefer Sutherland’s commitments to his new show Touch. However, when it was announced last week that the show would not be renewed for a third season, Sutherland suddenly found himself with a lot more free time on his hands. And now, lo and behold, Jack Bauer will return to the screen after all, not in the form of a feature film, but rather a limited TV series dubbed 24: Live Another Day. The series is scheduled to air next summer on Fox.

According to THR, 24: Live Another Day is described as an event series that will consist of 12 episodes instead of the usual 24 (not unlike an HBO or Showtime series). Showrunner Howard Gordon (Homeland) will be the one overseeing it and he had this to say about the announcement:

“Jack Bauer has always been an exciting, thrilling character, and I confess that I’ve missed him. I think the audience has too… The character has evolved through the years, and this new and exciting event series format is perfect to tell the next chapter of his story and continue to reflect how the world is changing. Fans can rest assured that the Jack they know and love will be back.”

Obviously one of the problems with trying to do a 24 movie was the idea of compressing the 24 hour period into a two hour run time. This seems like a better compromise, although Fox entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly did say that there is “potential for additional closed-ended stories in the franchise.” Whether or not the movie is still a possibility remains to be seen. Are you excited for the return of 24? Is the shortened mini-series a better idea than a feature film?