Last summer, previous Fox network presidents Dana Walden and Gary Newman said that two 24 spinoffs were in the works. Walden and Newman knew that they would not necessarily remain at the network after the Disney/Fox merger goes through and as the final merger looms, Charlie Collier has taken over as Fox CEO. Today, he told the Television Critics Association that no iteration of 24 is currently in the works.
Both of the proposals for new 24 shows sounded like the creators were taking it in the right new directions. The show certainly got into a rut maintaining the real time formula in the Kiefer Sutherland seasons – even 24: Legacy fell into the same grooves. A legal drama could re-energize the format. A Jack Bauer prequel could be more of the same, but would at least feature a character who hadn’t honed his enhanced interrogation craft over nine seasons.
If those were going to be more of the same, it could be a good thing that Collier is taking a pause and working to make sure any new 24 has something new to add to the franchise.
Last year also saw the X-Files revival effectively end when Gillian Anderson said she no longer wants to play Scully. We asked Collier if he is looking for ways to keep The X-Files going, but his answer was the same.
A 90210 reboot is in the works, but is shopping around to multiple networks. Collier confirmed that Fox has had a look.
“When 90210 is in the market, Fox is going to see that pitch,” he said.