It's now official - work is underway on "24: The Movie". Variety reports that Twentieth Century Fox has closed a deal with series creators Robert Cochran and Joel Surnow, as well as showrunner Howard Gordon, to bring the Kiefer Sutherland real-time thriller to the bigscreen.

Surnow and Cochran will write the script, with Gordon working on the story - a rough sketch of the plot has already been drafted. No talent deals are yet in place, though Sutherland -- an exec producer of the hit Fox series -- has made it clear he's interested in starring in the film should it snag a greenlight.

It's understood the work on the script will begin late this summer, just as production on the sixth season of the show gets under way. Once execs see the script and look at ratings for the first few episodes of season six, they'll be able to make a decision on greenlighting production of the film very early in 2007.

Shooting will then take place next spring and summer during the hiatus between season six and seven. The plan is then to abandon the real-time conceit of the TV show which allows scribes much greater plot possibilities, most notably international travel. The film is not expected to be tied too heavily to the "24" mythology, allowing those who haven't watched the series to understand the movie's action.