The clock has stopped a few times on the feature version of the Imagine Entertainment/Fox series 24 – now it seems to be ticking once again. The project will bring back Kiefer Sutherland as the relentless no holds barred government operative, Jack Bauer. Earlier this year a script by Billy Ray was rejected by the Studios and hopes of a high octane movie adaptation seemed all but lost.

At one stage, Tony Scott was said to have been approached to direct the film version – riding on the success of his real time out of control train flick ” Unstoppable”. However the filmmaker is no longer attached so producers are looking for a new director. Screenwriter Mark Bomback (The Wolverine,  Shadow Divers ) is rewriting Billy Ray’s original draft which had Jack Bauer heading to Europe, no word on whether Bomback will maintain the same plotline or revamp the story altogether. He will be turning it in by year’s end, and if all goes well production is set to commence very quickly around the early part of next year. The goal is to get the film into production to match Sutherland’s schedule who’s available in April. The star recently returned to TV with his sci-fi thriller/ drama Touch, which is set to air early 2012.

On another note, Anil Kapoor who played the Middle Eastern leader Omar Hassan in the show’s final season, is set to star as an Indian incarnation of Jack Bauer. Kapoor has made a deal with 20th Century Fox to produce 24 for Indian audiences through his Anil Kapoor Films Co. In a press release, the star who made it big with ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ said:  “Kiefer has created an iconic character which has inspired me to bring the franchise to India. This will be my first foray to Indian television and I look forward to duplicating the standard of excellence Fox has so successfully created.”

Producer Brian Grazer is said to be looking at five directors to helm Jack Bauer’s movie outing. For fans, Sutherland’s transition of his career defining character to the big screen has been long overdue, and despite the many delays – this time all bets are on.