Fox says it is considering a '24' run without Kiefer Sutherland

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- Fox says it is developing a standalone television event that would focus on 24 characters other than actor Kiefer Sutherland's world-saving government agent Jack Bauer.

"We have discussed it with him," Entertainment Weekly quoted Fox Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dana Walden as telling television critics in Pasadena this weekend.

"We talk to Kiefer all the time. He's a great creative partner, potentially he won't be in this installment. We're not sure yet. We're not that far along, but I know he supports us doing more 24," Walden said. "First of all, we're not talking about continuing the show without him. ... We're talking about whether there's one installment that he's not in. I think if the storytelling is exciting enough, that real-time element that the show really owns -- so many of the production aspects are so unique to that show -- I do [think we could do it without him]. I think [it could be] great characters with that creative team. I look at everyone that's surrounded Kiefer in the last installment and I think it could work."

The last entry in the small-screen franchise was the London-set 24: Live Another Day limited event, which aired last year with Sutherland reprising the role he played for eight seasons from 2001-10.