After eight long seasons, the latest of which is coming to a close, the clock will stop for “24”.  When the show first aired back in 2001, it brought a whole new

take on espionage genres.  It presented the story in real-time, with a clock frequently popping up on screen showing the time during the events.
It was certainly something completely new and would probably stick around for several seasons until the formula began to wear off.
Now, eight years later, the formula is apparently doing so, mainly due to high production costs and lower ratings than usual.  The word of the show canceling came from executive producer and star, Kiefer Sutherland.
“We’ve done eight years we’re very proud of,” said Sutherland in an interview on Entertainment Weekly.  “It’s very sad, and the only thing tempering this from being all-out heartbreak is the fact that we have this sense of accomplishment, and that’s the only thing holding people up.”
That’s a real shame, considering that Sutherland was one of the people who helped create the television show that made him a star.  This also leaves most “24” fans disappointed, considering it was one of the hottest shows on television.
“I am very upset because the show is thrilling and exciting,” said senior Hiro Horikoshi.  “There were so many great plot twists and memorable characters.”
Senior Peter Brody is also disappointed.
“I never really was a fan of the show,” Brody said. “But seeing how so many people watched it and now seeing it leave is a real shame.”
But since the budget cost nearly tripled from the first season (season one cost $30 million, do the math), the show has to find a way to break even.  And what better way to break even then to make a feature film?
Instead of another season, Jack Bauer and company—depending on who survives this season—will move on directly to the silver screen.  The strange thing about this is that it won’t be “24” anymore, it will be…”2”.
“Watching it on television is one thing,” Horikoshi said.  “But now seeing it on the big screen is something bigger.”
Sutherland is also very excited about bringing it to the silver screen, but I sure hope he knows what he’s going into…
“The hour-by-hour, episode-by-episode dynamic that made for such a thrill ride on television tied us down creatively,” said Sutherland.  “In real-time, our characters can’t move around, but in a two-hour representation of a twenty-four hour day, all of a sudden, Jack can get in a plane and fly from South America to Russia to England, and still have time to save Washington.”
Right…if you were flying on Superman.  The film will likely begin shooting during the summer and prepare for a 2011 release.  So fans, keep your eyes on the clock. 