Jack Bauer's spectacular comeback is almost at an end - 24: Live Another Day is about to draw to a close, but with the show's future still up in the air, will Jack make it out of this one alive?

Digital Spy spoke to actor Tzi Ma - who plays Jack's long-time nemesis Cheng Zhi - about what 24 fans can expect from the finale, his character's shock return and whether the series will continue beyond this 12-part run.

24: Live Another Day stars talk fan favourites and the show's future

Which TV show would the stars of 24 bring back?

Ma did not know Cheng would be returning to 24 til "really late"



"I think they really wanted to keep it a surprise. It's really difficult to keep a secret and I think they know that, so they said, 'Y'know what? Let's contact him at the latest possible date!'

"I did have to keep it a secret - for the longest time, we were shooting and the episodes had not been aired yet. People were seeing me in London and going, 'What are you doing here?' so I said, 'Oh yeah, I'm just visiting a friend!'."

Cheng was originally devised as "Jack's mirror image"



"In the beginning, when we first approached this character, he was basically Jack's mirror image on the Chinese side - he was protecting the sovereign of China. So in many ways, I've never seen him as a villain.

"But by Day Six, he had totally just lost his way a little bit. That's how he got in trouble - if he'd stuck to what he did, I think he would've been fine. But his life wouldn't be as exciting!"

Cheng is "almost a new character" in Live Another Day

Chris Raphael



"Back in the day - in Days 4, 5 and 6 - he was a dutiful servant of the government. Now he's gone rogue - his whole attitude and demeanour and motivation has changed. What drives him is completely different from what he was.

"Back then, he had to answer to all of these people. Now he answers to no-one but himself - so that makes him a lot more dangerous!"

24 still works because of its "rapid" pacing

Chris Raphael



"When I read the scripts, I was sweating - just reading the scripts! I'm serious! The pacing of it is so rapid - very different from the original show. The original show was a little more contemplative - this one is not, this one is just pure action.

"It never stops - it's like the bullet train. Once you leave the station, it's gone, man - it's over!"

Fans should expect the unexpected from the 24: Live Another Day finale

Chris Raphael



"I tell you one thing - fans will not be disappointed, for sure! Hold on to your seat, that's all I can say! I would suggest this - don't leave your television set. Hunker down, get all your chips and beers and everything lined up... and just don't leave!"

The future of 24 depends on Kiefer Sutherland and the writers

Daniel Smith



"I think it definitely has the audience and the following to be [an ongoing] show again. But the show's very taxing for Kiefer - I mean, this guy's in every scene and he takes a beating. It's a punishing schedule for him, so I think it's the logistics.

"And let's talk about the writers - I think the studio at Fox has probably been pushing them, harassing them, to come up with the show quickly and I think they resisted and I'm very happy that they did.

"Because you look at this season, it's amazing what they came up with - all the twists and turns. I don't know how their minds work, but I tell you, man, if I had a little bit of that... I would be dangerous!"

24: Live Another Day concludes tonight (July 14) on Fox in the US and on Wednesday (July 16) on Sky1 in the UK. Tzi Ma can next be seen in USA network's new series Satisfaction, premiering Thursday, July 17.

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