24

If Tony Almeida can return, anything is possible...

A Fox press release has confirmed that Gregory Itzin will be reprising the role of villainous President Charles Logan on season eight of 24.

Late in the season, current commander-in-chief Alison Taylor (Cherry Jones) will reluctantly enlist her disgraced predecessor to help with a growing diplomatic crisis.

Logan played a major role in a terrorist scheme during season five of the drama. He was last seen getting stabbed by his mentally unstable ex-wife, Martha, on season six.

24 exec producer Howard Gordon told Entertainment Weekly the opportunity to watch Jones and Itzin go head-to-head “was simply too compelling to pass up.”

As for Tony, he's safely in custody, following the events of last year. At least we assume that's the case - but we'll be tuned in to the 24 season premiere on January 17 just to be sure. (And because Jack Bauer is our hero.)

NFL playoffs. A white Christmas. The season premiere of 24.

These are all things individuals look forward to each winter. While we've been aware of the dates on which the first two will occur, Fox has revealed the seasin eight premiere date for 24: January 17.

When the suspense-filled drama returns, it will shift locations to New York City. It will also feature big names such as Katee Sackhoff and Freddie Prinze, Jr.

But, based on the promo below, one thing will remain the same: the country will need Jack Bauer!

When 24 returns for its eighth season this January, Emmy winner Cherry Jones will still occupy the Oval Office as President Alison Taylor.

But there will be no First Gentleman to speak off, following Taylor's falling out with her husband last season because she ratted out the couple's corrupt daughter.

“I’m not married anymore,” Cherry told TV Guide Magazine. “I am the first woman and divorcée in the White House.”

There will be a brief discussion of the divided Taylor clan when season eight debuts, but then it's on to the issue of world peace, Jones said.

That should be a challenge, with villains such as Callum Keith Rennie causing serious global problems.

Stephen Root - who got his big break on the underrated sitcom Newsradio and appeared as a vampire on True Blood - will come aboard season eight of 24 for a few episodes

The versatile actor will portray Ben Prady, a Department of Corrections officer that investigates the disappearances of a parolee.

Root will next be seen in the George Clooney movie Men Who Stare at Goats.

He joins Freddie Prinze Jr., Katee Sackhoff and David Anders as recognizable faces on the eighth season of 24.

When 24 returns in January, Annie Wershing says her character of Renee Walker will be "pretty damaged."

As for Katee Sackhoff's Dana Walsh, who debuts on the show's upcoming eighth season? The actress spoke on this character to E! News.

"I play Dana Walsh, the head data analyst for CTU, and she's engaged to Cole Ortiz (Freddie Prinze Jr.). She's got a shady little past, and we'll see how that affects her," the actress said, adding:

"It's the same usual 24. They're used to having new characters coming in. There's so many new castmembers this year that if it is the last year, they'll go out with a bang."

If it's the last year, let's also hope Jack Bauer dies at the conclusion of the season. It's the only proper way to end 24.

Annie Wershing returns to the role of Renee Walker on the new season of 24.

But she won't exactly be the same old FBI agent, Wershing said in a new interview.

“She comes back pretty damaged from where she ended in Season 7, definitely darker, and she has some stuff going on,” the actress told TV Guide Magazine. "There is some really cool stuff happening with her, and it's so cool that I don't want to ruin any of it!”

Fair enough. Specific 24 spoilers aside, what about the overall plot of season eight?

"The actual crisis this year is the closest thing they've had to something that could actually happen tomorrow. It isn't something that the viewers have to buy into. It's very real," Wershing said.

In closing, she was asked if 24 could continue without Jack Bauer, a frightening thought to loyal fans of the series. She replied:

“The concept could work. It could be one day in the life of a firefighter saving something. [But] honestly, because I was a fan of the show [before joining the cast] it's hard for me to imagine 24 without Jack Bauer. I think the same type of show could work... But I don't know if fans would be into it.”

While many shows premiere this month, 24 will wait until January to air its eighth season.

When it does finally hit Fox again, the series will be based in New York City for a change; it will also feature a few new stars, such as Freddie Prinze Jr. and Katee Sackhoff.

Now, we can report on a trio of actors that will also play key roles on season eight: Rami Malek, Julian Morris and Hrach Titizian have landed multi-episode arcs on long-running drama.

Here's a rundown of the roles:

• Malek (pictured, who has appeared on Gilmore Girls and Medium) will portray Marcos, a would-be suicide bomber with sympathies toward radical Islam;
• Morris (best known as Dr. Andrew Wade on ER for seven episodes) will play a CTU agent Owens;
• Titizian (Raising the Bar, Mad Men) will play Nabeel, the second-in-command of security for President Hassan.

A new Fox sitcom and a returning Fox hit have each cast a new role. Here's a closer look at each:

• Matthew Levy has joined the cast of Sons of Tucson. He'll portray Brandon Gunderson, the oldest of three brothers who hire a hustler (Tyler Labine) to serve as their father because their biological dad is in prison. The comedy will debut in early 2010.
• Mido Hamada (pictured) has landed a recurring role on 24, playing Mehran, the leader of a group of operatives in an Islamic country.

David Anders is a guest star in demand.

The British actor enjoyed a long arc on Heroes, and appeared on the second-ever episode of Lie to Me.

He's now been booked for multiple episodes on the eighth season of 24. He joins other major names on the Fox drama, such as Freddie Prinze Jr. and Katee Sackhoff.

What will Anders be up to? It's unclear. For how long will he be on the show?

"He will be in a handful of episodes," the star's rep told E! News.

The eighth season of 24 premieres in January.

And those behind the show aren't afraid to admit that it may be the last.

Does that mean a Jack/Audrey reunion is on the way, as many fans have been clamoring for? Without revealing any major 24 spoilers, executive producer Evan Katz had a rather simple answer to that question when he spoke to Michael Ausiello: no.

“Some of the things we’re doing this season preclude [her returning],” Katz said. “So I think not. She was in bad shape the last time we saw her.”

She was in catatonic shape, to be exact.

As for the possible series finale coming up in May, Katz said the show was preparing to either end or be extended for another season.

“We have a scenario that would work well [if it's the end]. But we also have a bunch of scenarios where the show could go on in different ways... We’re remaining flexible.”