'24' Star Kiefer Sutherland Returns to TV in ABC Political Thriller 'Designated Survivor'

It's being reported that Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award winning actor Kiefer Sutherland is returning to TV in a new in political thriller. It seems the 48-year old, who gained universal fame as agent Jack Bauer for eight seasons in the Fox hit 24, as well as its mini-series Live Another Day, has earned a promotion.

Sutherland's new role will be President of the United States in ABC's Designated Survivor, according to a report from Variety.  

The series title refers to a term used for a U.S. cabinet member who is brought to a safe location while the President and the country's other top leaders are all gathered in one place. The practice is to ensure the continuity of the government in case a cataclysmic disaster kills the Commander-in-Chief and all those in line of succession. The designated survivor then becomes the new President under the Succession Act.

The conspiracy-laden plot places the former Touch star as the title character who is thrust into the most powerful position in the world after a terrorist attack occurs during the State of the Union address. It will obviously allow Sutherland to show a more vulnerable side as his character is a regular guy put in an irregular circumstance. Protecting him will be Joint Terrorism Task Force and FBI Agents, all of which have different experiences and solutions to solving terrorist crimes.

The one hour crime drama is being developed by The Mark Gordon Company and written by Safe House and Stolen writer David Guggenheim.  Producers include Simon Kinberg, whose previous credits include The Martian, Fantastic Four and Elysium, Suzan Bymel from Touch and Sutherland himself.