Kiefer Sutherland

After 30 years, Billy the Kid could be saddling up for one more movie.

There was a scene that directly connected Kiefer Sutherland’s character in the original to the new movie.

In honor of the new ‘Flatliners,’ here are a dozen movies and TV shows that tried to relaunch classic properties, and continue their stories at the same time.

Sutherland, star of the original ‘Flatliners,’ has a supporting role in the new sequel/remake starring Ellen Page.

Cancellation season has come and gone, but FOX has one last twist to inject into the 24 franchise. Sequel series 24: Legacy has officially run out the clock after one season, though the franchise will adopt a new approach going forward.

FOX has made reasonably adamant that next year’s 24: Legacy would serve to carry on the spirit of the franchise moreso than its characters, something Kiefer Sutherland aggressively seems to corroborate. That said, producers might have in mind to return at least Mary Lynn Rajskub’s Chloe before long.

I know for a fact that I have seen the original Flatliners, but for the life of me, I cannot seem to remember what happened. I remember Julia Roberts and Kiefer Sutherland, and I seem to remember scenes where somebody fell out of a tree and died, but that’s about as much as I can muster. That’s not a knock on the movie so much as it is an indication of when it came out; all of those movies I stumbled upon at my local Blockbuster as a kid seem to blur together.

The very existence of FOX’s upcoming 24: Legacy serves as reminder that Jack Bauer’s time has passed, producers even having entertained the thought of killing off their beleaguered hero in 2014 revival Live Another Day. That said, it seems Kiefer Sutherland himself led the charge in killing off Jack, casting serious doubt the actor would ever agree to reprise the role.

Kiefer Sutherland made reasonably clear that 24 was behind him after FOX event series Live Another Day, a fact supported both by the franchise’s next Jack Bauer-free Legacy, and Sutherland’s own upcoming ABC drama. Now, producer Howard Gordon weights if they should have killed Jack Bauer off altogether, and what it might mean for a Legacy appearance.

Kiefer Sutherland has made abundantly clear his intent to leave 24 breakout Jack Bauer behind, but FOX can’t say the same of its onetime flagship franchise. Spinoff-reboot 24: Legacy has officially been ordered to series with Walking Dead star Corey Hawkins in the lead, while Sutherland has agreed to executive produce.