Reports are saying that Keifer Sutherland has signed a deal with 20th Century Fox Television for three more years of the series 24. Now earlier you'll have seen we talked about the 24 film and its scheduled release for 2008, that means that we're likely now to see Jack back for the film, never mind the next three years series.

Sutherland looks set for a sweet deal though, with Rope of Silicon reporting that he's signed a deal for more than $40 million for three seasons...surely that includes the film version too? The deal also includes a two year development deal for his upcoming Production company.

This is great news, as long as 24 can retain the high level of writing and not settle on its laurels. Sutherland is not the key to the success of the series, it's the intricately developed plot with multiple twists and turns keeping the audience on edge at every episode and really not being able to guess what's coming next. The problem will be if it turns to the standard Hollywood fayre halfway through the deal.

Here's hoping the deal means the film too, but as I said, I'm looking for the writers to the success of the next three years.