Comic-Con: Corey Hawkins is new hero for new edition of '24'
SAN DIEGO — The 24 clock is about to start ticking again with a new hero charged with saving the literal day.
Jack Bauer is not back for 24: Legacy, but former Army Ranger Eric Carter (Corey Hawkins) will be when a new edition of the Fox real-time action drama premieres after the Super Bowl on Feb. 5.
Hawkins (The Walking Dead, Straight Outta Compton) is ready, but knows he has big shoes to fill.
"I was such a fan and still am of the show. The real-time premise changed the face of television," Hawkins tells USA TODAY during his visit to Comic-Con. "The idea of a new hero for a new day sang to me."
When 24 begins, Carter and his wife (Anna Diop) are in a federal protection program following a successful overseas mission done in concert with CTU, the counterintelligence unit of the original series, and its then-chief, Rebecca Ingram (Homeland's Miranda Otto), whose husband (Jimmy Smits) is now running for president.
"You find him in a good place. He has his wife, he's a civilian now," Hawkins says. "You've got this guy trying to adjust to what life is (now) and then the past comes back" as his mission colleagues and their families start to be killed.
"Throughout the season, we see the transition into what it means to work for CTU. The rules of engagement are totally different when you're on the homefront," with the drama set in the Washington, D.C., area, he says.
Real-world terrorism has changed since 24 premiered just after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, Hawkins says. "I feel like when the show first aired we were fighting a different kind of battle. Even those rules of engagement have evolved and I think the show will reflect that in how it deals with terrorism in this day and age."
The casting of Hawkins also reflects changing times. "Growing up, I didn't see too many heroes, positive heroes, American heroes, that looked like me on TV. So, when this opportunity came around, it felt right."
The new version continues the real-time concept, but with 12 episodes rather than the 24 of the original format. The most recent Kiefer Sutherland outing as Jack Bauer, 2014's 24: Live Another Day, also ran 12 episodes.
Hawkins, who recently filmed Kong: Skull Island in Vietnam, hasn't yet talked to Sutherland, who is an executive producer but decided not to continue in the role. "I'd love to (talk) and I think that will evolve organically," he says.
The D.C. native wouldn't say if 24 duties would prevent him from continuing as Alexandria resident Heath in The Walking Dead, but "maybe there's an opportunity" to continue, as both shoot in Atlanta.
Hawkins knows he is in good hands with returning 24 producers Howard Gordon, Evan Katz and Manny Coto as well as director Stephen Hopkins, who oversaw the original pilot and Legacy's pilot, too. However, even though Eric is not Jack, the actor understands the pressure of taking the place of an iconic character. "I like being the underdog. I like doing things that people wouldn't necessarily think I can do," he says.
Eric is smart and skilled but doesn't have the experience that Jack did. "Jack was a seasoned CTU agent," Hawkins says. For Eric, "the question is: Is he prepared? He has less experience, but he is a trained Ranger. … Jack was relentless, passionate, smart. There was a fire about that character. I think Eric assumes all of those qualities as well. He's just a different character and comes at it from a different perspective."