Jack Bauer and 24 WILL return in 2008.

Whether or not you praised or damned the producers of 24’s decision to postpone the shows seventh season an entire year, it was hard not to admit the show needed time to be refreshed and reinvigorated after a largely stale sixth outing.

Well the refreshing and reinvigoration better start now because Jack Bauer will return this year in a 2-Hour TV movie bridging the gap between Seasons six and seven.

At least so states The Hollywood reporter here, and aintitcool.com here.

I must admit I’m quite excited by this decision, I love 24 but the last season was a shadow of what the show is capable of. Taking the appropriate time to make sure the show returns on top form is essential, but at the same time a brief reminder of why Mr Bauer is one of TV’s best love characters would be very, very welcome.

If the trailer at the bottom of this post is anything to go by, it does seem there is a lot that needs to happen between seasons six and seven. Maybe the TV movie could create a believable story behind the return of Tony Almeida, only so many presumed dead’s can return to the land of the living before the show begins to bleed integrity.

The writers strike has been very effective; the writers have the deal they deserve. I’m not sure however they can sleep soundly knowing how many big shows and stories have been ruined by the downtime.