24 Season 7 Update: Chloe Returns, Bill Buchanan Axed, Africa Plot Vetoed, Shooting Delayed & Kiefer's Hint

24 uber-geek Chloe O'Brien (left) has been confirmed as a definite returnee for the highly anticipated season 7 of the Sky One drama.

Producers had indicated that the show was set to go in a new direction with only Jack returning as well as a few old favourites. It appears that Chloe is one of them. Interestingly Chloe found out she was pregnant at the end of season 6, so we may even see a bambino O'Brien in the up-coming season. No word on her on/off partner Morris as yet - maybe he'll be looking after the toddler while Chloe helps Bauer down the bad guys?

One 24 favourite who will not be returning, as things stand, is old safe hands himself Bill Buchanan - played by James Morrison (not the singer with the feminine haircut). The silver fox of CTU appears to be out of the picture as James said this on his personal website:

"At present, it looks as though I will not be back for season seven, since the show is moving in new directions. "

If Buchanan is out of the game then it's a safe assumption that Karen Hayes will be as well. We've already reported that Tom Lennox is unlikely to feature in anything more than a guest appearance which would indicate that D.B Woodside's President Wayne Palmer is also firmly out of the picture. A presidential story is still expected though with the smart money being a on 24's first female President.

Meanwhile, the shooting of season 7 has been put back 3 weeks thanks to a script re-write. The producers had planned on subplot based in Africa, but after failing to find a suitable fake location, the story writers have been forced to re-think this premise. Here's what Mary Lynn Rajskub (Chloe O'Brien, above left) had to say:

"I don't know what's going on over there, but they're going crazy,"

"We usually start [back up] at the end of July, and I don't think we're starting until a couple weeks into August now. It's kind of exciting, because I think [the postponement] means that they're really having to dig in there and come up with new stuff."

With only Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) and Chloe confirmed up to now it is looking like a whole new concept for season 7 with no CTU involement whatsoever. While filming a Citroen ad (no accounting for taste there Kiefer) in Brazil, Sutherland revealed this juicy tidbit about the forthcoming plot:

“Bauer will be his own boss, at the end of the sixth season he’s tired, disillusioned with the government and doesn’t want to have anything more to do with the presidency,”

“He’s going to be on his own.”

Sounds good, but not entirely accurate, as we know Chloe is going to pop up in some capacity, probably as early as episode one.

Chloe Returns + Africa Plot & Production Delays

Bill Buchanan Out Of The Picture

Kiefer's Season 7 Tidbit

Female President on 24?

24 could be set for it's first ever female president in Season 7 according to numerous online sources. The ground breaking show was the first program to put a black politician in the President's chair and the producers are said to be lining up a women to boss The White House in Season 7.

This comes off the back of news that there will be few surviving cast members from previous 24 outings. Kiefer Sutherland's Jack Bauer remains a certainty and Chloe O'Brien (Mary Lynn Rajskub) is also extremely likely but anyone else remains unclear.

As reported earlier, Tom Lennox (Peter MacNicol) looks to be out of the equation due to his re-transfer to Numbers, while Wayne Palmer (DB Woodside) and Noah Daniels (Powers Boothe) are almost definitely out should a new charge be cast in the Presidential position.

Intersetingly, it has been stated the producers would like to cast a women due to the fact Hillary Clinton may be running for the Presidency in real life. If the producers were to go a step further and cast Sherry Palmer (Penny Johnson Jerald) or Martha Logan (Jean Smart) then it could really be a case of art imitating life. Both are unlikely though - storyline wise Martha Logan wouldn't appear to have the mental strength, while Sherry's 'dead or alive' status is very much unconfirmed.

Female President for Season 7

Numbers up for Tom Lennox

Bad news for fans of 24 as Season 6 favourite Tom Lennox (Peter MacNicol) has been ruled out of having a major role in Season 7.

Despite the critical pasting that Day 6 received, the character of Lennox shone like a beacon and was undoubtedly one of the best things about the previous season. As Wayne Palmer's Chief of Staff Lennox became a key player in day 6 with some double deals, blackmail and even heroics. As a unanamanous fan favourite he was one of the few truly multi dimensional characters of the season and many will gutted to find out he will not be returning to operate in the corridors of power at the White House.

Peter MacNicol has instead signed up to a full season of popular US drama Numbers where he will reprise his role as Dr. Larry Fleinhardt.

With a political plotline 99% confirmed for 24 Day 7, that leaves us to speculate which political animals, if any, will be returning to the show. Karen Hayes (Jayne Atkinson) seems unlikely after being forced into retirement along with Bill Buchanon (James Morrison). While President Wayne Palmer (DB Woodside) and ex-President Charles Logan (Greg Itzen), last seen on the operating table and a life support machine respectively, it seems unlikely that either will be back in the frame.

Former Sec Def James Heller (William Devane) would be a welcome re-addition to the cast but his political status is unclear. If Heller is still in politics then a return could happen but I've given up hope that he'll be a series regular following a half season in Day 4 and limited but key roles in Day 5 & 6.

The best chance we have of a former political face returning has to be Mike Novick (Jude Ciccolella). The former chief of staff to both David Palmer (Dennis Heysbert) and Logan, Novick is one of the few characters still with us from Day One and has a big following amongst hardcore fans.

Those hoping for a Lennox return may get their wish in the shape of a 'Special Guest Star' cameo but for the moment we have no news on this.