Jack Bauer Vs. Development Hell

The notion of a 24 movie never made sense.

All due respect to its many fans, there was never a "right" time to bring Jack Bauer to the big screen. If you went the route of making it while the show was still on the air (As Fox did with X-Files), you face the problem of convincing people to shell out $10 to see the film version of a television series they get to watch every week for free. On the other hand if you wait till after it goes off the air, you run the risk of waiting too late and cashing in your chips long after said show's popularity, an argument to be made if the show was still viable to begin with why did it go off the air? Either way, it was a tricky predicament.

Despite reassurances from star Kiefer Sutherland, the 24 movie that last we all heard would commence production this spring isn't, reports "TOLDJA." Fox pumped the brakes on the production with a script by Billy Ray and a director who, according to the last set of rumblings though no firmly committed, looked to be Antoine Fuqua.

Sounds like budget woes were the culprit, but to the credit of both parties though they barked over costs we weren't looking at a $100 million+ price-tag. Well under that range with the filmmakers wanting $60 million (though still a lot of money obviously) and Fox big-heads aiming for $30 million. Nobody is happy (Read: Sutherland) and we'll see if this blows over. The film, as a whole, isn't dead. Yet. Just don't expect Jack Bauer screaming on a cell-phone and running down a highway in 2012.