24 Movie To Air Late 08

The producers of hit TV show 24 are developing a two-hour "prequel" to the upcoming seventh season.

It will air on US TV this autumn.

The movie, designed to bridge the two-year gap between seasons six and seven, will be followed by the real return of the real-time drama series in January 2009.

On Wednesday, 24 producers began securing the show's core cast members for the film.

The upcoming seventh season is set in Washington and features the first female U.S. president.

The 24 writing team is back at work, with filming on the remaining episodes of the seventh season slated to begin in April.