Summary
The24 Movieis happening at 20th Century Studios andDisney, and fans couldn’t be happier after waiting 10 long years for the big announcement. The action series has long been mooted for a big screen adaptation, but the real-time format has been considered too difficult to translate to movie theaters. However,there is a Johnny Depp thriller from 1995 calledNick of Timethat nailed the real-time format, and the24 Moviecould replicate certain aspects of it.
The24 Moviewill inevitably have to break the real-time format at certain points during its runtime, but fans will expect some sequences to play out in real-time, just like they did in the original series.It’s a very difficult task to have a big screen adventure take place in real-time, but if done right, it could be one of the most tense action thrillers ever.Kiefer Sutherland hasn’t signed on to reprise the role of Jack Bauer yet, but it’s unlikely areturn to the24universewould go ahead without him.
Nick of Time
Starring
Johnny Depp, Christopher Walken, Roma Maffia, Charles S. Dutton, Courtney Chase, Marsha Mason, Peter Strauss and Gloria Reuben
Written by
Directed by
John Badham
There aren’t many movies out there set in real-time as it’s just so difficult to get right, and that is whyJack Bauerhas found it so difficult to make the step up from television to the big screen. However,there is a little known thriller from the mid 90s that absolutely nailed the real time format, and this gives24fans hope that the big screen version can work.Nick of Timecame out in 1995 to absolutely no fan fare, and it starred up-and-coming actor, Johnny Depp as a mild-mannered accountant called Gene Watson, who is traveling through Los Angeles with his young daughter, when they are kidnapped.Gene is forced to carry out an assassination on a presidential candidate, and he has just over one hour to do it. If he fails, his beloved daughter will be killed.
Nick of Time Key Facts
Despite not being a critical and financial success,Nick of Timehas certainly aged well and has amassed a cult following due to its suspenseful premise and engaging lead performance by Johnny Depp, who would go on to be an A-list star in the years after this movie’s release.The real-time element works, as the audience sees constant reminders of the race against time via clocks, watches and constant threats from Christopher Walken’s villain.The plot has similarities with the first season of24, with a presidential candidate under threat, and a man having to race against time while being framed for murder, just like Bauer was mooted as David Palmer’s assassin when he was actually trying to save him.
The 24 Movie Should Take Pointers From Nick Of Time In Order To Nail The Real-Time Aspect
Nick of Timearrived in movie theaters six years before24made its debut on Fox, and there are so many similarities between them.The upcoming24 Moviecan workby taking some notes from this quirky 90s thriller, but it must set up the time constraints in the early stages of the story.Nick of Timedoes this almost immediately and the rest of the movie works because the audience knows the mission and how long the protagonist has to achieve it.The24 Moviecould adopt many little time-sensitive missions for Jack Bauer to solve, as they’ll probably want to use time jumps to shift throughout the day.However, it could still take a leaf outNick of Time’s book, and create suspenseful sequences that lead up to a shocking final climax.
Events Occur In Real Time
Other Movies Set in Real-Time
Nick of Timeis set on one particular day, but the events unfold over a period of one hour and 30-minute period, and this is where the suspense comes from.The24 Moviecould copyNick of Time’s format and have the events unfold in real time over a two-hour period,but this arguably wouldn’t be the quintessential24for many fans. It’s imperative that the24 Moviekeeps the ticking clock franchise tradition alive, so a majority of the action does need to take place in real-time. However, many fans would like to see the beginning and end of the 24-hour period represented on screen with some real-time action in between. The final sequence ofNick of Timeis a tense affair as time is running out on the mission, so maybe the24 Movieshould copy this and use the real time format in the finale.
