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Fox set to develop ‘24’ and ‘Prison Break’ spinoffs, but new seasons still in limbo

Fox executives and the series’ producers seem to be taking their own sweet time to fixate on the right script while developing a new installment for ‘24’ and ‘Prison Break’.

BY JYOTSNA BASOTIA

PUBLISHED JAN 8, 2020

Fox's '24' and 'Prison Break' may soon be developed into potential spinoffs (Fox)

Fans of crime-fiction miss Fox drama series '24' and 'Prison Break'. One viewer reminisced about the shows on Twitter, saying, "Most series these days aren’t worth the time. Miss the days of '24' & 'Prison Break'."

However, going by a recent update, Fox executives and the series’ producers seem to be taking their own sweet time to find the right script to take the two action-dramas forward.

When Fox Entertainment president Michael Thorn was asked about the potential renewal of '24' as well as the possibility of a new season of 'Prison Break', he made it clear that there was nothing concrete at the moment, but they wanted to develop both series into "potential spinoffs".

Thorn told Deadline, “We continue to talk about '24' and 'Prison Break' as potential spinoffs,” adding, “There is nothing that is ready to announce on either front but if there is a way to do another 24, we would be thrilled to do it. But it has got to feel special and worthy of doing as opposed to just another season.”

President of Fox Entertainment, Michael Thorn attends the 70th Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images)

Reportedly, back in May, Fox chose to dismiss two potential new '24' series that were in the developmental stage. While one was a real-time legal thriller written by '24' executive showrunner Howard Gordon and Jeremy Doner, the other was a prequel to the original story of CTU agent Jack Bauer, and was conceptualized by 'Gordon' and '24' co-creators Joel Surnow and Bob Cochran.

Although the network remains open to a prequel for the '24' universe, a new spinoff concept has been occupying creators over the past few months. If reports are to be believed it is being developed by 'The Resident' showrunner Todd Harthan.

Thorn also said that both Fox and the '24' producers want to make the political action-drama spinoff "feel like an event". While '24' surpassed both 'Mission: Impossible' and 'The Avengers' to become the longest-running US espionage or counterterrorism-themed television drama after its eighth season, 'Prison Break' was green-lit for season six but that has been "in the works" for a long time now.