Kiefer Sutherland Is Done With Designated Survivor, But Maybe Not With 24

While Netflix cancels plenty of its own shows before they really get going, the streaming service has also been known to rescue other network's series. One such instance of this happening is with "Designated Survivor," starring Kiefer Sutherland, which ABC canceled after its second season. Netflix picked it back up for a 10-episode third season, and it sounds like that's as far as the show will go. 

As reported by RadioTimes.com, Sutherland is skeptical of "Designated Survivor" going on past Season 3. He said, "I don't think series 4 is going to happen." At the very least, fans can expect some semblance of closure with Season 3 and not be left hanging. Sutherland continued, "We had an amazing experience with Netflix, and a kind of freedom that was wonderful — but the reality is, because the contracts were so complicated and different from network television to Netflix etc, they didn't book a lot of the actors that were on the show, and they took other jobs, and I don't blame them for a second for that."

Ending "Designated Survivor" frees Sutherland up for other projects, and based on what he's said elsewhere, he could be interested in reviving "24," even if Jack Bauer doesn't necessarily appear on screen. 

"24" was one of the most popular shows of the 2000s, focusing on agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) going on various missions. Each season takes place over the span of a single 24-hour day in real-time, giving the show a unique hook. It's been brought back before, once in 2014 with "Live Another Day" and again in 2017 with "24: Legacy." It's impossible to keep a good show down, and with "Designated Survivor" closing out its run in the near future, Sutherland may be setting his sights on reviving the series. 

There's been a ton of talk of renewing the series to some capacity. A few years ago, there were rumors of a "24" prequel show focusing on a younger Jack Bauer. While those plans seem to have fizzled, Sutherland isn't letting it go, and he has plenty of ideas to keep it going, even if he's not acting in it. He spoke with Entertainment Weekly in March 2023 about "24," and he has multiple ideas of how the idea of "24" can continue. He mentioned, "The idea of him being brought back — I'm just spitballing — I think that's an interesting idea. You introduce a new cast of people in their effort to get him out, and it lives on from that point. There's a lot of ways to go about it."

He also suggested using the "24" format of each episode being a literal hour of someone's life who's completely unrelated to Jack Bauer, stating, "I also think it's such a great idea to take a 24-hour moment in somebody's life that is desperate — and that could be a fireman; that could be so many different circumstances." There are many ways a new version of "24" could manifest. Sutherland's also busy with a new Paramount+ series called "Rabbit Hole," so it's clear he's still in demand, and fans would no doubt love a return to "24" in some way.