Report: "24" Movie Dead — Is It Because of Timing or Salary?
Mar 14, 2012
by Kate Stanhope


Jack Bauer has saved the world several times over by now. Why can't he save his own movie?

20th Century Fox has pulled the plug on the "24" movie because of budget and salary issues, The Wrap reports.





The film was set to begin shooting next month after production wraps on the first season of star Kiefer Sutherland's new series, "Touch".

However, Sutherland, along with producer Brian Grazer, disagreed with Fox on a budget for the film. Fox was hoping to make the film for $30 million, while Sutherland and Grazer thought the movie version of the long-running action series could not be produced for less than somewhere around $40 million, according to the site.

Sutherland was also reportedly upset about being offered $1 million to star in and produce the film; he wanted $5 million.





A spokesman for Fox confirmed that the movie is "on hold," but cited scheduling — not money — issues.

"We're still working on a script, and hope to make it when Kiefer next has time," a spokesman told the site. "But this all came down to timing, and seven weeks is not enough time to prep a movie like this."





A meeting between the movie studio and producers was said to be taking place Wednesday afternoon to try to resolve the issues, according to The Wrap.

Should the two sides not reach an agreement, the "24" movie could be shelved until at least next spring because of Sutherland's commitment to "Touch".

Fox has not renewed "Touch" for a second season yet, but the series' debuted to big numbers back in January.





This is just the latest bump in 24's journey to the big screen. Producers have been vocal about the project since "24" went off the air in May 2010.

However, Fox axed the first script in late 2010, penned by State of Play scribe Billy Ray. Grazer tweeted in April 2011 that production was back on track for a 2012 release.

While promoting "Touch" at the Television Critics Association's winter previews in January, Sutherland sounded optimistic about the film. He said that shooting would begin in either April or May and revealed that the movie would take place "maybe six months" after the TV series finale.

http://www.tvguide.com/News/24-Movie-Dead-1044873.aspx

Well this sucks.

24 Movie: Kiefer Sutherland Explains Delays
3/16/12


Kiefer Sutherland stopped by "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" to promote "Touch", his new Fox series; but the conversation quickly turned to his old show, "24".

A "24" movie has been in the works since the series wrapped and Sutherland has kept viewers in the loop about the continued adventures of Jack Bauer since the finale in 2010.

However, it seems the movie has hit a little snag. According to TheWrap, 20th Century Fox halted work on the movie amid budget concerns and scheduling conflicts. But Sutherland told Jay Leno it's a scheduling issue.





"This is something we've all been working on. I did '24' two-and-a-half to three years ago. Howard Gordon, who was a writer for '24', and a wonderful writer Billy Ray... we all started working on a script. Then it got to a point when another writer came in and we got the script to a really amazing place.

Unfortunately because of my schedule we're trying to fit a lot of moving parts, as well as everyone else's schedules, to try to find the right slot to fit the film in. We're still trying and if we don't get it into this slot then we'll do it next year.

It's one of those things that '24' was so good to me and it was an amazing experience, we have a responsibility to protect it. Our job is to make sure that we make the best possible movie ever and if we have to wait a little longer then we will, but we're still trying and hopefully we'll get it done."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/16/24-movie-kiefer-sutherland-delay_n_1353280.html?