Tate-DonovanFollowing Fox’s announcement last week that Jack Bauer will be returning on 5th May in 24: Live Another Day, word now arises that Tate Donovan will be right there alongside him as part of the new line-up.

The upcoming limited series, which will be twelve episodes in length, picks up four years after the end of Season 8, with Jack Bauer on the run in London.

Mary Lynn Rajskub, Kim Raver, and William Devane will reprise their roles alongside Jack Bauer himself, Kiefer Sutherland.

Donovan joins the cast as the White House Chief of Staff, Mark Boudreau, an astute and strong-willed political advisor who’s married to Audrey Raines (Raver), daughter of President James Heller (Devane).

Jon Cassar, who’s worked on the series since Season 2 and directed dozens of episodes, will be at the helm for six of the twelve episodes in 24: Live Another Day, including the season opener.

Donovan is coming off the back of CBS’ new drama/thriller series, Hostages. He was of course part of Ben Affleck’s terrific ensemble in Argo, and remains perhaps best known – at least to people of my age – for his role as Jimmy Cooper in The O.C. He’s a brilliant actor, and I can’t wait to see if he gets a chance to go toe-to-toe – verbally, if not physically – with Jack Bauer.

24: Live Another Day will begin airing on Fox in the US on May 5th. If you’re anything like us, you can’t wait for Sutherland’s return as Jack Bauer either. Smart money says this will be some of the greatest television we’ll see all year.