ALL HE NEEDS IS TO SURVIVE ONE MORE DAY
24: Day 8 begins Sundary January 17 with a 4 hour 2 night premiere!

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Katee Sackhoff, Freddie Prinze Jr., Mykelti Williamson, John Boyd, Jennifer Westfeldt and Chris Diamantopoulos have joined the cast of 24 for the series' eighth season. The Emmy Award-winning drama starring Kiefer Sutherland returns for its next astonishing day with a two-night, four-hour premiere beginning Sunday, Jan. 17 (9:00-11:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

Season Eight will unfold in New York City amidst the shadows of the Statue of Liberty and the United Nations. In this new day, CTU has been upgraded and is run by MBA-schooled and razor-sharp head honcho BRIAN HASTINGS (Williamson, "Forrest Gump"). COLE ORTIZ (Prinze Jr.), an ex-Marine who wants to follow in JACK BAUER's (Sutherland) footsteps, runs the division's Field Operations. Expert data analyst DANA WALSH (Sackhoff, "Battlestar Galactica") collaborates with systems analyst ARLO GLASS (Boyd, "The Notorious Bettie Page") inside CTU. ROB WEISS (Diamantopoulos, "The Starter Wife") serves as PRESIDENT ALLISON TAYLOR's (Cherry Jones) new chief of staff, and MEREDITH REED (Westfeldt, "Grey's Anatomy") is an ambitious journalist with ties to the unfolding situation.

As previously announced, Sutherland, Jones, Mary Lynn Rajskub and Annie Wersching also return. In addition, Bollywood icon Anil Kapoor ("Slumdog Millionaire") makes his American TV debut as OMAR HASSAN, a Middle Eastern leader who comes to the U.S. on a peacemaking mission.

Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer
Mary Lynn Rajskub as Chloe O'Brian
Anil Kapoor as Middle Eastern President Omar Hassan
Annie Wersching as Renee Walker
Mykelti Williamson as CTU Director Brian Hastings
Katee Sackhoff as CTU Data Analyst Dana Walsh
Chris Diamantopoulos as White House Chief of Staff Rob Weiss
John Boyd as CTU Systems Analyst Arlo Glass
Freddie Prinze Jr. as CTU Field Ops Director Cole Ortiz
Cherry Jones as President Alison Taylor

David Anders as Josef Bazhaev
Nazneen Contractor as Kayla Hassan
Elisha Cuthbert as Kim Bauer
Bob Gunton as Secretary of State Ethan Kanin
Doug Hutchison as Davros
Domenick Lombardozzi as John Mazoni
Benito Martinez as Victor Aruz
Jürgen Prochnow as Bazhaev
Bashar Rahal as Kamistan Military General Wasim
TJ Ramini as Middle Eastern Associate Tarin Karoush
Callum Keith Rennie as Vladimir Laitanan
Stephen Root as Department of Corrections Officer Ben Prady
Hrach Titizian as Middle Eastern Security Advisor Nabeel
Paul Wesley as Stephen
Jennifer Westfeldt as Journalist Meredith Reed

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Anil Kapoor has been cast as a series regular in the forthcoming eighth season of 24. Kapoor -- who played game show host Prem Kumar in Slumdog Millionaire -- will star in the Fox drama as a Middle Eastern leader who's on a peacemaking mission in America.

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The FOX series, which left Los Angeles (on screen, anyway) for Washington this season, will set its eighth season in New York, EW.com reports. The new season is set to begin filming in late spring and thus will have a significant portion of the production behind it when it hits the air in January 2010.

As has been the case for much of this D.C.-set season, "24" will actually do most of its filming at its Los Angeles home base. It's expected, though, that Kiefer Sutherland and the crew will take a field trip or two to New York to shoot some scenes.

Season eight will also feature "Slumdog Millionaire" star Anil Kapoor as a Middle Eastern leader who comes to the United States on a peace mission. EW also reports that Jack and Chloe (Mary Lynn Rajskub) will be working at a reconstituted CTU.

There's no word yet on who will be leading the unit, or which other regulars from the current season will return.

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Kiefer Sutherland's alleged fight with a fashion designer could delay filming on 24, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The actor could be pulled in by police after reportedly headbutting clothing designer Jack McCollough at a Manhattan nightclub earlier this week.

A law enforcement official said that McCollough told police his face was cut by a blow following a heated argument.

Nobody has been arrested over the incident, but reports claim that Sutherland could be jailed after the alleged attack.

"Part of his probation is likely to obey all laws, so the judge in L.A. will look closely at the New York case," said criminal defence attorney Richard Hirsch. "He can send him back to jail, sentence him to community service - that's all negotiable and would depend on the outcome in New York."

Sutherland is currently on parole from a 2007 DUI charge.

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The fashion designer who was allegedly headbutted by Kiefer Sutherland has branded the incident "a vicious, violent, unprovoked assault".

Jack McCollough was reportedly confronted by the 24 star after knocking into actress Brooke Shields at a party in Manhattan on Monday night.

Speaking to People, a representative for McCollough said: "Anyone who knows Jack knows that he would not hurt a fly.

"All we can say at this point is that he was the victim of a vicious, violent, unprovoked assault and that the matter is in the hands of the authorities."

Witnesses had reported that Sutherland wanted McCollough to apologise for knocking over Shields, but the actress later told TMZ that the designer "did nothing appropriate" and that it "was not clear what caused Kiefer to do what he did".

Reports have suggested that Sutherland will surrender to New York police later today. It is thought that he is facing a misdemeanour charge of assault.

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24: Is Kim Bauer following her dad to New York next season? You tell me: The show is looking for a 6-year-old actress to play Kim's now-4-year-old kid for an arc. Shooting gets underway later this month, assuming Kiefer Sutherland's recent headbutt heard 'round the world doesn't screw everything up.

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Kiefer Sutherland has been charged with assault after he allegedly headbutted a fashion designer on Tuesday morning.

The actor surrendered to questioning over the incident and a spokesperson for the New York Police Department confirmed that he has been charged with misdemeanour assault.

Reports have suggested that the incident occurred after fashion designer Jack McCollough accidentally bumped into actress Brooke Shields.

Los Angeles City Attorney Frank Mateljan said that prosecutors are consulting with investigators to determine if the alleged assault puts the 24 star in violation of his probation for a drink-drive conviction in California.

McCollough has said that he was subjected to "a vicious, violent, unprovoked assault" by Sutherland.

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Kiefer Sutherland has labelled reports that he headbutted a fashion designer at a New York party as "untruthful", reports People.

The 24 star has been charged with assault after Jack McCollough claimed that he had been headbutted by the actor after accidentally bumping into actress Brooke Shields.

In a statement, his attorney Michael C. Miller said: "We are troubled by the untruthful and self-serving information circulating regarding Kiefer Sutherland and events of last Monday evening.

"We are confident, however, that the investigation being conducted by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and the NYPD will confirm that Kiefer Sutherland was neither the instigator nor a wrongdoer in this incident."

He added that Sutherland would "not be making any comment...out of respect for this law enforcement process".

McCollough later branded the alleged incident as a "vicious, violent and unprovoked attack".

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Kiefer Sutherland has settled a legal spat with a designer who alleged the 24 star headbutted him at a party.

Jack McCollough claimed the actor attacked him for no reason at the Met Gala in New York on 5 May; Sutherland maintained he accosted the designer after he barged past Brooke Shields. The actress has since backed up the TV star's story, calling the incident "unfortunate".

McCollough was hospitalised with a broken nose after the alleged encounter.

In a recent U.S. TV interview, Sutherland admitted he "regretted" the incident.

Details of the settlement between Sutherland and McCollough were not available as WENN went to press.

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According to my watch, it's time for the second piece of casting on 24's eighth season!

Chris Diamantopoulos -- best known as Debra Messing's gay BFF on The Starter Wife -- has been tapped to play the series regular role of Rob Weiss, the argumentative and tough new Chief of Staff to President Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones). He replaces Taylor's current C.O.S., Ethan Kanin, who snatched his job back in last Monday's finale after the prez's psycho daughter, Olivia, was taken into federal custody.

As I previously reported, Day 8's action will switch from Washington D.C. to New York City and center on an assassination plot against a visiting foreign leader (Slumdog Millionaire's Anil Kapoor, the new season's first piece of casting).

Bonus piece of trivia free of charge: Diamantopoulos is married to Ugly Betty's sublime Becki Newton. On second thought, that little nugget is worth at least $50. Pay up.

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Jennifer Westfeldt and John Boyd have joined the cast of 24, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

On the upcoming eighth season of Fox's drama, Westfeldt will play the recurring role of Meredith Reed with ties to a Middle East leader called Arman Hashemi (Anil Kappor), who comes to the US on a peacemaking mission.

Boyd, who has previously starred in Law & Order and Fringe, will also become a regular, playing CTU systems analyst Jonah Schwartz.

Earlier this month, it was announced that Chris Diamantopoulos had joined the show's cast.

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Freddie Prinze Jr is joining the cast of 24, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Reports say that the actor will be a regular, playing Davis Cole, a recently returned marine who runs CTU Field Ops and wants to follow in Jack Bauer's footsteps.

Earlier this week, it was announced that Jennifer Westfeldt and John Boyd had joined the cast of Fox's drama series.

Prinze, who is married to Sarah Michelle Gellar, recently co-starred in the ABC comedy pilot No Heroics alongside Paul Campbell, Eliza Coupe and Arielle Kebbel.

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The late Bill Buchanan's heir apparent has been named, and it's Mykelti Williamson.

The actor, whose credits include TV's Boomtown and CSI: NY and the Sundance hit Black Dynamite, is joining Fox's 24 in the series regular role of Brian Hastings, the boss man of CTU's New York outpost.

Hastings, says Fox, is MBA-schooled and wields a razor-sharp intellect.

Previous Season 8 castings include Freddie Prinze Jr. (as the head of CTU Field Ops/a wannabe Jack Bauer) and Jennifer Westfeldt (as an ambitious newswoman).

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Suddenly, I find myself counting the minutes until 24's new season. Perhaps this is why: Katee Sackhoff is joining the cast!

Sources confirm to me exclusively that the Battlestar Galactica heroine has been tapped to play the series regular role of Dana Walsh, a highly respected and down-to-earth data analyst at the new and improved New York branch of CTU.

Translation: Chloe-Starbuck catfight alert!

This fraktastic casting coup hit a road block last week when Sackhoff abruptly took herself out of the running, prompting me to post this blind item. But late Friday, word surfaced that the BSG badass was once again in the mix.

Here's more scoop on Sackhoff's character...

She's in a relationship with fellow agent Davis Cole (played by the just-cast Freddie Prinze. Jr.), and she apparently has a skeleton in her closet she's trying desperately to keep hidden.

As I previously reported, 24's eighth season -- which premieres Jan. 17, 2010 -- will be set in the Big Apple and center on an assassination plot against a visiting foreign leader (Slumdog Millionaire's Anil Kapoor). In addition to Sackhoff and Prinze, new Day 8 blood includes Forrest Gump's Mykelti Williamson, Kissing Jessica Stein's Jennifer Westfeldt (as a journalist with ties to Kapoor's diplomat), and The Starter Wife's Chris Diamantopoulos (as President Taylor's Chief of Staff).

Thoughts on Sackhoff's casting? Is this going to be 24's best day ever? Comment away below!

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Clayne Crawford has signed up for a recurring role on Fox's 24.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Crawford will play a bad boy on the show's upcoming eighth season.

His character is said to have been previously involved with Katee Sackhoff's character, Dana Walsh. It was recently announced that Sackhoff has joined the cast as a series regular.

Other recent signings include Mykelti Williamson, Freddie Prinze Jr, Jennifer Westfeldt and John Boyd.

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T.J. Ramini has joined the cast of Fox's 24, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The actor, who played Gabrielle's boot camp instructor on season five of Desperate Housewives, has landed a recurring role on the Kiefer Sutherland-fronted drama.

He will play Tarin Karoush, an associate of the Middle Eastern leader played by new series regular Anil Kapoor.

Other recent 24 signings include Clayne Crawford and Battlestar Galactica's Katee Sackhoff.

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Bashar Rahal has landed a role on Fox's 24, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

He will reportedly play a general from the Islamic Republic of Kamistan who is involved in a conspiracy against Anil Kapoor's President Hassan.

Rahal's previous credits include My Name Is Earl, The Unit and Arrested Development.

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Former Heroes star David Anders has signed on for a recurring role in the new season of 24, according to E! Online.

A representative for the actor, who played Adam Monroe in the NBC drama, confirmed that he will star in a "handful of episodes" in the upcoming eighth series.

The spokesperson reportedly declined to reveal what role the 28-year-old would be playing.

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24's executive producer Evan Katz has revealed that he has drafted a number of scenarios for the show's ending in the event that it is not renewed by Fox next year.

Production has begun on the eighth season of the real-time drama, but speculation is rife that the new run will be the show's last. "We have a scenario that would work well [if it's the end]," Katz told Entertainment Weekly. "But we also have a bunch of scenarios where the show could go on in different ways... We’re remaining flexible."

Katz also revealed that Jack's former flame Audrey - last seen at the end of season six - is unlikely to return in season eight. "Some of the things we’re doing this season preclude [her returning]," he said. "So I think not. She was in bad shape the last time we saw her."

24 returns to Fox in January 2010.

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Rami Malek, Julian Morris and Hrach Titizian have landed recurring roles on Fox's 24, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Malek, whose previous credits include Medium and Gilmore Girls, will play Marcos, a would-be suicide bomber, while former ER actor Morris is joining as a CTU SWAT agent.

30-year-old Titizian, who appeared as Zamil Kouri in 24's sixth season, will take on the new role of Nabeel, the second-in-command of security for President Hassan.

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Former True Blood actor Stephen Root has joined the cast of Fox's 24, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The 57-year-old, who played Eddie for four episodes of FX's vampire drama, has reportedly been booked on the Kiefer Sutherland-fronted show for a multi-episode arc.

Root has been cast in the role of Ben Prady, an officer of the Department of Corrections who is looking into a parolee who has gone missing. He joins Rami Malek, Julian Morris and Hrach Titizian, who have all recently landed recurring roles on the show's upcoming eighth season.

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Kiefer Sutherland has said that 24 could survive without its lead character Jack Bauer.

The actor, who has played the chief protagonist since the programme first aired in 2001, told ShortList that he is afraid that the drama could continue without him.

Sutherland said: "I'm not the real star of the show, not at all. All of us, from the actors to the writers on 24, have always understood from Day 1 that we are not, and never will be, the heartbeat of the show.

"You only have to look at the casualty list of major characters that have died over the years to know you can be killed off, and the show will only get better without you. The real star of 24 has always been the concept of doing this show in 'real time'.

"You involve a running clock and inherently it makes the viewer sit forward and feel on edge. That changed TV forever, I think."

Asked who he wanted to replace his character should he die, he added: "Nobody. F**k. I'll switch into Jack Bauer mode and do whatever I have to do to kill that b*stard.

"It's my job man, and people should know when I go, I'll be going kicking and screaming. Let's say, even if Jack were to die, there are a lot of great actors that could do it, and be successful at it, but that doesn't mean I’d be happy about it."

It was recently suggested that 24 could end after its upcoming eighth season.