Rumors circulated late last month that Fox was developing a "24" prequel series centered around a young Jack Bauer. This week, the network not only confirmed that that show was indeed in the works, but that a second spinoff of the hit series was also planned -- with an entirely different focus.

During an appearance at the Television Critics Association summer press tour, Fox CEO and chairman Gary Newman discussed the new series, and how each would draw from the original Kiefer Sutherland-starring drama. According to Newman, "24" remains relevant to today's audiences because "Times are fraught now, these are emotional times. Security continues to be a big issue."

The focus of the prequel will reflect that, according to Newman:

" ... people love Jack Bauer and [we] would tell a story that I think the audience would very much connect with — of how he became that character. It would be set in the same world of security."

As for the second spinoff, that will actually be a legal drama, which will keep the framing of the 24-hour countdown clock. Newman said the creative team had been looking for a way to apply the template to that genre for years, adding that the two paired together naturally.

"You have to look for an arena where the stakes are high and time matters. [The legal version of '24'] deals with an execution of a prisoner and there are just 24 hours left until the execution is supposed to take place. So the stakes are high and it potentially has a lot of the same values of the original '24.' Regardless of the political climate, the time’s always right for a show of that type."

It certainly sounds like an intriguing combination. Here's hoping it makes it out of the pilot stage and onto our screens soon (and fares better than Fox's last attempt at a "24" spinoff, the Corey Hawkins-starring "Legacy," which was canceled after one season).

[via: Entertainment Weekly]