A somewhat forgotten, but no less iconic, action hero is returning to the genre to remind us all of his gruff brilliance. You’ll no doubt have a time forgiving yourself for forgetting him, but there was a time when Kiefer Sutherland and his 24 character Jack Bauer was uttered alongside the likes of James Bond and Jason Bourne. But while his action hero status may have waned, the actor is now all set to resurrect his particular set of skills in a new action thriller. And it’s being helmed by the creator behind the Takenfranchise, no less.
Now that your brain is once again filled with the overwhelmingly captivating grittiness of Sutherland as Bauer and the incessantly beeping countdown clock that bookmarked his adventures, just imagine the idea of the action star joining forces with (the now highly controversial following several sexual assault allegations) Luc Besson and a cast that includes Hollywood icon Al Pacinoand Ever Anderson (Black Widow) for the story of “man of faith who wages a violent war against the city’s criminal underworld.” Try not to squeal too loudly with excitement.
Set in 1990s Manhattan, the project is titled Father Joe and finds Luc Besson (Léon: The Professional, The Fifth Element, The Transporter) writing and producing with Barthélémy Grossmann (Arthur, malédiction, No Limit) directing (via Variety). Sutherland will star as the titular Father, with Pacino playing “a powerful mob boss whose empire collides with Father Joe’s crusade. Anderson, meanwhile, plays “a young woman caught between danger and redemption under Joe’s guidance.” Filming is due to kick off this month, with Sutherland saying he “can’t wait to get started.”
“I have been a fan of Luc Besson going back to ‘Subway.’” Sutherland said in a statement. “As a director and a writer, he has a unique capacity to weave drama and action together without sacrificing either. I’m so excited about this opportunity to work with him as the writer of ‘Father Joe’ and director Barthélémy Grossmann. I can’t wait to get started.”
Will Kiefer Sutherland’s Return to Action in ‘Father Joe’ Spark a ’24’ Revival?
Entering the spotlight during the 1980s with the likes of Stand by Me and The Lost Boys, Kiefer Sutherland marked himself as one of the best action heroes of the modern era thanks to his role in 24. Created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran for Fox, 24 first began back in 2001 and follows Sutherland as Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU) agent, Jack Bauer, following him and his team as they attempt to thwart multiple terrorist plots and defend the United States.
Originally running for nine seasons, 24 has been brought back multiple times over the years for the 2008 TV movie 24: Redemption, the 2014 limited series 24: Live Another Day, and a spin-off titled 24: Legacy in 2017. The series was a huge pop culture hit, winning a series of awards and nominations, including at the Golden Globes and Emmy Awards. However, in the years since, 24 and Jack Bauer have faded from our collective memory somewhat. Well, here’s hoping that Father Joe hits hard enough to remind everyone of Sutherland’s affinity for action. And perhaps even sparks another 24 outing.