24 lucky number for Sutherland with €40m deal

KIEFER SUTHERLAND has signed up for three more years with hit TV show 24 in a €40 million deal, according to reports.

Hollywood Reporter said sources estimated the actor would get more than €40m for agreeing to keep playing government agent Jack Bauer which could make him one of the highest paid actors in a drama series.

Sutherland will also become an executive producer on the Fox show and he will be able to develop new TV and internet projects through his own production company.

The 39-year-old described his past five years on the show as "one of the most creative and rewarding experiences in my career".

He said he and the show's producers were still interested in making a 24 film but the earliest it would begin shooting would be late spring next year, Variety reported.

Under the pact, Sutherland also will be elevated from a co-executive producer to executive producer on 24 next season alongside Joel Surnow, Robert Cochran, Howard Gordon and Evan Katz.

The show is screened in real time with each set of 24 hour-long episodes making up one day.

"The writers keep managing to turn the show in on itself, coming up with something that's well thought-out and miraculous," Sutherland said.

In its fifth season, 24 has become a DVD best-seller and has spawned a mobile phone series.

Sutherland's performance has earned him a Golden Globe award and four Emmy nominations.