TICK TOCK
Corey Hawkins (“Straight Outta Compton,” 2015) stars as a U.S. Army Ranger working to stop a terrorist attack in the premiere of “24: Legacy,” airing Sunday.
The Super Bowl may be the most exciting event of the year for football fans, but they aren’t the only ones with something to celebrate. One of the most exciting television series in history is about to reboot, and millions of TV viewers eagerly await the premiere. Following the big game, “24” fans get their first taste of a brand new edition of the iconic action series that aired from 2001 to 2010, and was revived briefly in 2014.
However, the legendary Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland, “Designated Survivor”) is not the star of the new edition. Corey Hawkins takes over as the lead in “24: Legacy,” which premieres Sunday, Feb. 5, and continues Monday, Feb. 6, on Fox and Citytv. The series again features a real-time format as Sgt. Eric Carter (Hawkins) battles terrorists, but, with 12 episodes instead of 24, there are time jumps incorporated into the season.
TV viewers may recognize the Juilliard-trained Hawkins as Heath from AMC’s ratings winner “The Walking Dead.” However, it was the actor’s role as Dr. Dre in the 2015 biopic “Straight Outta Compton” that attracted the attention of “24: Legacy” casting director Lisa Miller Katz. Considering the popularity of the original “24,” and of Jack Bauer in particular, Hawkins has big shoes to fill.
His character, Carter, is a U.S. Army Ranger who led a successful mission to take out terrorist leader Sheik Ibrahim Bin-Khalid. Six months later, it appears that Khalid’s followers have tracked down Carter and his fellow Rangers, prompting him to go into hiding and enlist the help of Rebecca Ingram (Miranda Otto, “Homeland”), former national director of CTU.
Ingram seems to be the Chloe (Mary Lynn Rajskub, “Mr. Show”) to Carter’s Jack: a person with skills and resources who can help him from the inside. Ingram stepped down as director of CTU to support her husband, Sen. John Donovan (Jimmy Smits, “NYPD Blue”), during his bid for president of the United States, but she returns to CTU because she has faith in Carter’s ability to thwart a looming terrorist attack on U.S. soil.
“Carter was the youngest squad leader in the history of the Rangers,” she explains in the show’s trailer. “He doesn’t fail, because the battle isn’t over until he wins.”
Hawkins, Otto and Smits make a formidable core cast, but fans of the original”24” are undoubtedly most excited to see a familiar face: Tony Almeida, played by Carlos Bernard (“Scoundrels”).
“Carlos Bernard has done an amazing job portraying this dark and conf licted character, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with his return to the show,” said executive producers Evan Katz and Manny Coto, in a joint statement.
One of the show’s original characters, Almeida appeared in seasons 1 through 5, as well as 7 and 9. His character proved so popular, he was featured in “24: Solitary,” a short film about his time in prison that was included in the DVD/Blu-ray for 2014’s “24: Live Another Day.” Once a top CTU analyst, Almeida went rogue after his beloved wife, Michelle (Reiko Aylesworth, “Hawaii Five-0”), was murdered.
It remains to be seen whether Almeida will be the reboot’s big bad, or if the events will offer him the chance to redeem himself. Regardless, his return is highly anticipated all around, but don’t expect to see him right away. He shows up later in the season, so fans will have to stay tuned.
Tony may be the only original cast member returning, but there is another link to the original. Newcomer Coral Peña portrays CTU computer analyst Mariana Stiles, cousin of the late, great Edgar Stiles (Louis Lombardi, “The Sopranos”). Other cast members of note include Anna Diop (“The Messengers”) as Carter’s wife, Nicole; Ashley Thomas (“The Night Of”) as Carter’s brother, Isaac; Dan Bucatinsky (“Scandal”) as CTU communications analyst Andy Shalowitz; Charlie Hof heimer (“Mad Men”) as former soldier Ben Grimes; and Raphael Acloque (“The Danish Girl,” 2015) as Jadalla bin-Khalid.