Summary
Fans have wanted a24 Moviefor many years, and it’s finally officially in the works at 20th Century Studios andDisney. Kiefer Sutherland hasn’t signed on yet to reprise the iconic role of Jack Bauer, but it’s only a matter of time before he does. If Jack Bauer does come back, he’ll need to be surrounded by a strong cast of characters.There’s one particular role that needs to be filled if the movie adaptation is going to be considered a classic24story and that is the President of the United States.
24first aired on Fox back in 2001, and the first season centered onJack Bauertrying to thwart an assassination attempt on a presidential candidate. Since then,every season of24has featured the American President as a character in the story,and it would be hard to imagine a24 Moviewithout the presence of the most powerful politician in the world.
The American Presidents In Each Season Of 24
David Palmer in Seasons 1-3
The Following Takes Place Between Midnight And Midnight On The Day Of The California Presidential Primary. Events Occur In Real Time
Senator David Palmer first appeared in24season 1, on the day of the California Presidential Primary, when a threat was made against his life,and CTU agent, Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), was given the job of thwarting the assassination attempt. Palmer would win the presidency that same day, and he was the acting POTUS in seasons 2 and 3, and served one term before leaving office, having helped to avert a nuclear bomb attack and a biological virus. In season 4. Palmer was brought back as an advisor to President Charles Logan, but he was assassinated while writing his memoirs at the beginning of Day 5.
Charles Logan in Seasons 4 and 5
Charles Logan was a villainous POTUS, who was involved in the assassination of David Palmer as well as the sale of nerve gas in an attempt to get more oil for America.Logan tried to cover up his crimes, but Jack Bauer exposed him, and he was removed from office.He was arrested and placed on house arrest. He re-appeared in Day 6, and claimed to be seeking redemption, but his ex-wife, Martha (Jean Smart) ended up stabbing him in the neck, leaving his fate ambiguous until he returned in Day 8 to cause trouble for President Allison Taylor. He had a famous altercation with Jack Bauer, and ended the series by shooting himself in the head, but somehow survived, albeit brain-dead, for the rest of his life.
Hal Gardner (Ray Wise) was sworn in as President after Logan’s arrest on Day 5.
Wayne Palmer in Season 6
Wayne Palmer first appeared in Day 3, providing counsel to his brother David Palmer during his presidency. He was by his brother’s side in Day 5 when he was assassinated and became president in Day 6 and was instrumental in Jack Bauer’s release from the Chinese. However, he also suffered an attack on his life and suffered brain damage. He tried to return to work but suffered a hemorrhage hours later.An Easter Egg in24: Redemptionrevealed that Palmer had later died.
Allison Taylor in 24: Redemption, Seasons 7 and 8
Allison Taylor was sworn in as President in24: Redemption, and Day 7 saw the first female president dealing with an attack on The White House by terroristsfrom Sangala. Taylor suffered personal loss in Day 7, when her husband suffered a bad injury and her daughter ended up in prison. All of this was on top of her son’s death prior to the events of Day 7.
Taylor asked former President Logan for help in negotiations with the Russians in Day 8, which ended up being a big mistake which she owned up to. She did one good thing at the end of the series when she advised Jack Bauer to flee the country.
James Heller in 24: Live Another Day
Secretary James Heller first appeared in Day 4, when he was kidnapped by terrorists along with his daughter and Jack’s lover, Audrey Raines (Kim Raver). Bauer saved them both, and William Devane returned in a recurring role as Heller in Day 5 and 6 before becoming a season regular in24: Live Another Day.Heller was now the President, but his term was blighted by his early onset Alzheimer’s disease.Things ended tragically for Heller, as Audrey was killed by long time 24 villain, Cheng Ji (Tzi Ma).
24
Starring
Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rasjkub, Carlos Bernard, Kim Raver, Dennis Haysbert, Gregory Itzin, Elisha Cuthbert, Cherry Jones, Sarah Clarke and William Devane
207
Created By
Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran
24has had a rich history of compelling drama featuring American Presidents and the24 Moviewouldn’t be the same without all the political plot points. Of course,fans mostly want to see Jack Bauer killing terrorists, but the President is an important factor in the ongoing24saga.It all started with Jack Bauer being assigned to protect a presidential candidate in24season 1, so his association with presidents must continue in the24 Movie. Bauer was always a non-political figure who protected and served whoever was in office.The President could play a key part in bringing the former CTU agent back into the fold inthe return of24, so it’s vital that the character is developed well.
Jack Bauer was in a predicament at the end of24: Live Another Day, with the Russians taking him prisoner after he took revenge on them for their involvement in Renee Walker’s death in Day 8. When Bauer resurfaced in the limited series, he was essentially on the run from the authorities, soif he’s going to be brought back in to save the world in the24 Movie, he’ll probably have to be pardoned by the current American President.
