Corey Hawkins, last seen as Dr. Dre in the film Straight Outta Compton, has secured the male lead of Fox’s newest pilot in the 24 franchise.
According to Deadline.com, Hawkins’ casting in 24: Legacy came “after lengthy on-and-off negotiations.”
The reboot features all new characters, led by military hero Eric Carter (Hawkins). Carter, who succeeds Kiefer Sutherland’s Jack Bauer as the hero on the show, was written and conceived as African-American, notes THR.
Written by 24 veterans Manny Coto and Evan Katz and directed by Stephen Hopkins (who helmed the original 24 pilot), 24: Legacy follows Eric Carter’s return to the U.S. and the trouble that follows him back – compelling him to ask CTU for help in saving his life, and stopping what potentially could be one of the largest terror attacks on American soil.
Despite a very rough background, Carter turned his life around in the Army Rangers but now, back home in Virginia with his wife Nicole, he’s pulled back into action as his past comes looking for him.
Unlike the original 24, which was centered squarely on Jack Bauer, 24: Legacy will have a strong female lead (yet to be cast), a woman with a long history at the agency and a former head of CTU.
In addition to Straight Outta Compton, Hawkins also completed an arc on AMC’s The Walking Dead and will appear next in Legendary’s Kong: Skull Island. The Julliard grad previously starred on Broadway in Romeo & Juliet.
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