Fox recently announced their fall schedule along with all the other networks. “24” won’t be returning until January when Season 7 will air with uninterrupted episodes. However, as we already know, a two hour prequel movie will be airing this fall that will bridge the gap between Season 6 and Season 7. Fox announced that the prequel will air on November 23, 2008.

In related news, sources confirm that Scottish actor Robert Carlyle (The Full Monty) has been cast in the prequel movie as Benton, Jack’s mentor in South Africa where a lot of the film takes place. Carlyle’s role is not expected to spill over into the show’s seventh season, but with “24″ you never really know.

Fox also gave us some press on the prequel as well as Season 7:

Shot on location in South Africa, Jack Bauer battles an international crisis, while here at home the nation prepares for a new president on inauguration day. Taking place just a few months before the new day dawns, the prequel will set the stage and raise the stakes for Season Seven.

“We’re excited about the prequel because it explores Jack’s complex emotional state of mind and still has all the signature excitement and suspense that fans have come to expect from 24,â€? commented executive producer Howard Gordon. “Shooting in South Africa affirms everyone’s commitment to making this season especially memorable for our fans.â€?

Celebrating its 150th episode this season, the series has resumed production on “Day 7� and will unfold without interruption in its regular time period Mondays (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) beginning in January 2009.

Set in Washington, DC, “Day 7� finds CTU dismantled and Jack Bauer on trial. Bauer’s day takes an unexpected turn when former colleague TONY ALMEIDA (Carlos Bernard) returns. Meanwhile, President ALLISON TAYLOR (Cherry Jones) leads the country alongside White House Chief of Staff ETHAN KANIN (Bob Gunton) and First Gentleman HENRY TAYLOR (Colm Feore).

A national security crisis prompts an investigation by a team of FBI agents including Agent JANIS GOLD (Janeane Garofalo), Agent RENEE WALKER (Annie Wersching), Agent LARRY MOSS (Jeffrey Nordling), Agent SEAN HILLINGER (Rhys Coiro) and security specialist MICHAEL LATHAM (John Billingsley). Although CTU is no longer, CHLOE O’BRIAN (Mary Lynn Rajskub) and BILL BUCHANAN (James Morrison) are back for another momentous day of shocking events.

However, there will be a two hour prequel film this fall that bridges season 6 with season 7. I’m guessing the film will probably be helpful because it sounds like a lot has changed. Apparently we’re going to find CTU disbanded after the events of season 6 and Jack Bauer on trial for his actions (the guy can’t catch a break). However, a major national security incident occurs when the firewall responsible for protecting America’s government computer infrastructure is breached. I’m guessing they’re going to need Jack to get “involved” again.

The photo above features from left to right: FBI Agents Sean Hillinger (Rhys Coiro), Janis Gold (Janeane Garofalo), Larry Moss (Jeffrey Nordling), and Renee Walker (Annie Wersching) who is also in an “adversarial relationship with Jack Bauer�, Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard), who everyone thought was killed in a previous season, Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), Bill Buchanan (James Morrison), Chloe O’Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub), First Gentleman Henry Taylor (Colm Feore), the show’s first female president Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones), and Chief of Staff Ethan Kanin (Bob Gunton).

A lot of people weren’t that happy with last season so it remains to be seen if the long hiatus will be good for the ratings or bad. I’m a huge fan of the show, but I too felt last season was lacking in a lot of ways (the music stunk for sure). I’m hoping the extra time was used wisely be the show’s producers to get back to all the things we loved about it from the very beginning while still allowing the characters and situations to grow intelligently. (I’m not sure how many more times Jack is going to have to prove himself to be a patriot before I’m going to scream.) Let’s hope they get it right.