’24’ Jack Bauer Prequel series in works from original creators Joel Surnow and Bob Cochran

Jack Bauer’s next chapter may be an early one.

Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that the next chapter in the 24 franchise will be an ongoing prequel series that tells the origin story of how Jack Bauer became Jack Bauer. Original series creators Joel Surnow and Bob Cochran are said to be teaming on an idea for the character originally played by Kiefer Sutherland. Executive producer Howard Gordon is attached to the project and is working with Surnow and Cochran on the idea.

Surnow and Cochran are co-writing the script for what sources say could be an ongoing series rather than a closed-ended limited series like the most recent incarnations in the franchise, 24: Legacy or 24: Live Another Day. It’s unclear when the series could be on the air, though there had been some rumors in May that Fox could launch the new installment for midseason. Casting has not begun.