Kiefer Sutherland Is Officially Returning to TV—This Time as the President

Designated Survivors will premiere on ABC this fall

By Billy Nilles May 06, 2016 9:30 PMTags
Kiefer Sutherland, Designated SurvivorsABC

Get ready for Kiefer Sutherland to be back on your TV screens.

The 24 vet is officially returning to TV now that ABC has picked up new series Designated Survivors for the fall, E! News has learned. The conspiracy thriller centers on Sutherland's Tom Kirkman, a lower-level cabinet member who finds himself unexpectedly thrust into the role of president of the United States following a devastating attack on Washington. As he navigates the most difficult presidency in history, he will struggle to keep both his family and the whole country from falling into chaos.

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Beyond Sutherland, Designated Survivors also stars Natascha McElhone, Maggie Q, Kal Penn, Adan Canto, Italia Ricci, LaMonica Garrett, and Tanner Buchanan. For your first look at what's sure to be ABC's next OMG-worthy series, press play on the video above. (And don't panic too much when you see the glasses they've got on Sutherland's face.)

After nine seasons as Jack Bauer on the long-running Fox conspiracy thriller, Sutherland attempted a comeback with the short-lived Touch, which ran for two truncated seasons from 2012-2013, also on Fox.

The pickup is ABC's first new series order for the 2016-2017 TV season. It comes on the heels of Fox's early pickups for a rebooted 24: Legacy and Lee Daniels' new musical drama Star.

Are you looking forward to Sutherland's return to TV? Sound off in the comments below!

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