Summary
The24 Moviewas announced back in July 2024, but updates have been hard to come by ever since.The real-time format made the original24television series unique, and now HBO Max has launched its own real-time drama calledThe Pitt,starring Noah Wyle as an Emergency room doctor. The medical drama takes place over the course of one 15-hour shift, with each episode taking place across one hour.
The Pitthas echoes of24’s classic real-time format, and it could be the perfect lead in to the movie adaptation of the hit action series.Kiefer Sutherland hasn’t been confirmed to return as Jack Bauer in the big screen adventure yet, and it’s still unclear how the real-time format will be reworked to fit into a two-hour movie, but it’s promising that shows like The Pitt are paying homage to the format, and it’s bound to get people talking about24once again.
The Pitt
Cast
Noah Wyle, Tracy Ifeachor, Patrick Ball, Fiona Dourif, Katherine LaNasa, Isa Briones and Gerran Howell
Executive Producers
R. Scott Gemmill, Noah Wyle, John Wells, Erin Jontow, Simran Baidwan and Michael Hissrich
Created By
R. Scott Gemmill
The Pittsees Noah Wyle playing Dr. Michael “Robby” Rabinavitch, a doctor at the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital, who embarks on a long 15-hour-long shift. Robby is still suffering from the things he saw during the pandemic, but he has the support of his loyal team around him to get through the stress of a shift in the emergency room. The series debuted on streaming platform Max on August 02, 2025, with each episode airing weekly on the platform.The Pitt’s format is eerily similar toKiefer Sutherland’s hit action drama,24,but its similarity to another classic drama is what has caused some serious controversy.
This isn’t the first time Noah Wyle has played a doctor, after appearing in 254 episodes of the long-running NBC medical drama,ER, as Dr John Carter.BeforeThe Pittwas given a 15 episode first season order at Max, the original plan was to rebootER.However, year-long negotiations between the estate of the deceased originalERcreator, Michael Crichton, and the team behind the new show broke down. Crichton’s estate sued WBTV, Wells, Wyle and Gemmill, claiming the concept ofThe Pittwas very similar toER. The lawsuit claimed there were three key differences: the location, the name of Wyle’s character and the exclusion of Crichton’s estate in the making of it. The lawsuit stated: (viaDeadline)
The PittisER. It’s not likeER, it’s not kind ofER, it’s not sort ofER. It isERcomplete with the same executive producer, writer, star, production companies, studio and network as the plannedERreboot.
Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rasjkub, Carlos Bernard and Elisha Cuthbert
Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran
Despite the striking similarities withER,The Pittis actually way more like24, with the real time format a key element of what makes the show tick: Pun intended.It is quite surprising that24didn’t lead to a string of shows set in real time, but nearly 25 years after the Kiefer Sutherland-led show debuted, it finally has a spiritual sequel of sorts. The characters ofJack Bauerand Dr. Michael “Robby” Rabinavitch have one key thing in common: they are both focused on saving lives, albeit in vastly different ways.The Pittcould be exactly what the24 Movieneeds in terms of getting audiences re-engaged in heart-stopping real-time drama.
Disney and 20th Century Studios have been tight-lipped over the progress of the24 Moviein recent months, andfans need an update soon, or interest in the project may start to dwindle. The release ofThe Pittearlier this month has re-ignited interest in the24 Movie, with comparisons being drawn between them.MashablehailedThe Pittas ‘partER, part24’ in their review and added:
From exploring issues with modern-day healthcare systems to employing a real-time conceit in the vein of24,The Pittestablishes itself as its own beast, one that’s harrowing, compulsively watchable, and just the right mix of soapy and grounded.
