TV Revivals: Is the new ’24’ being done right on Fox?
With most of the TV Revival articles that we have written during the month of February have focused for the most part on hypothetical situations, the case of “24” is a little bit different, to say the least. After all, this is a show that we know for certain could be coming back, courtesy of a pilot that is in development.
Yet, is this the right way for it to come back? What we understand is this: It makes sense for Fox to try to make something happen. This remains by most estimations one of the most popular franchises that you’re going to find almost anywhere, and they stand to make a lot of money if this works. It certainly has with “The X-Files.”
Of course, herein lies the problem: When you brought back “The X-Files,” you did so with Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny as Sculler and Mulder. They were the reason why you probably loved the original in the first place. For “24,” you have no Kiefer Sutherland, and a reboot that features Corey Hawkins, an up-and-coming actor known most for a stint on “The Walking Dead,” in the lead role of Eric Carter. You have no familiar faces in the main cast, which is surprising to some given the assumption by many that Kate Morgan (Yvonne Strahovski) was going to be involved.
The advantage of starting new is simply: You’re courting a whole new crowd, and people who don’t have to know the established history of the in order to enjoy the story. Given that the ratings for the recent “24: Live Another Day” were not out of this world by any means, maybe you don’t want to just rely on them to save your shows, and you’re afraid that continuing the story with similar characters will do just that.
Of course, the disadvantage to this reboot concept is that it is very well possible that nobody is going to realize that they can jump into this story unaware of the past … and the show could suffer for that. Also, you run the risk that you lose some of the original viewers. It’s a toss-up gamble, but one that Fox may be willing to take. After all, they haven’t picked up the pilot to series yet.
Will you watch the new “24” revival?