Keifer Sutherland On What His ‘Designated Survivor’ And ’24’ Characters Share

Once upon a time, Kiefer Sutherland’s acting career was lacking the stamina needed to keep those big film roles coming in, but then came along Fox’s 24 and Kiefer soon found his career revitalized as he played a new kind of hero. Along with his own name, Sutherland helped to give the political thriller new life on network television with 24 and the Jack Bauer role. Now, Kiefer is poised to hit another home run with Designated Survivor, but this time, instead of serving as one of the president’s best agents, Mr. Sutherland fulfills the ultimate ambition as the de facto president in Designated Survivor.

A Designated Survivor Primer

Time has shared an early review of Designated Survivor and, within the review, there is a detailed account of that first episode and even a glimpse at the greater series theme. The Kiefer Sutherland headed series is set up in this first stage, as the events of this pilot lead the way for what is to follow by eliminating much of America’s government, leaving Sutherland’s Tom Kirkland as the highest ranking official and the new President of the United States. Understandably, there are many other officials, media professionals, and even American citizens who lack faith in Kiefer’s character, especially in the wake of that same terrorist attack which has left him in charge as the designated survivor.

The premise is an exciting one, but, as the Time review asserts, Designated Survivor is already missing the mark by spending too much time on the bureaucracy of thrusting Sutherland’s character into the political hot seat. Kirkland, the one-time Housing and Urban Development Secretary, whose ambitions previously fell short of the U.S. presidency, now finds himself leading the country at a time when a military leader might have been the better choice.

While long-time fans of Mr. Sutherland might be expecting the actor’s latest role in Designated Survivor to mirror 24‘s Jack Bauer, Tom Kirkland is far from the hero seen in the former Fox series. Instead, Tom is a meek paper pusher, taking his lead from the secret service men assigned to protect and guide him. Driving this point home, there is even a Designated Survivor scene in which Kiefer’s character flees the situation room because the stress of his new job has driven him physically ill.

There’s no doubt that Designated Survivor will force Sutherland to stretch previously untapped or rarely used acting muscles, as he finds himself compelled to play a different kind of character. Can Kiefer bring his talents to bear on a character who is the direct opposite of his quick to act, seemingly fearless Jack Bauer, particularly when so many will be comparing the 24 hero to Designated Survivor‘s Tom Kirkland.

Kiefer Sutherland Sees Similarities Between His 24 And Designated Survivor Characters

Asked to compare his most famous role with his most recent role, Mr. Sutherland tells People that Jack Bauer would definitely find himself drawn to Tom Kirkland as someone he could respect. Even Kiefer admits that the two men are as different as night and day in many ways, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t able to find some common ground. Sutherland points out that, as a professional, Jack Bauer has to keep his political views out of the equation, so, whether or not he agrees with Kirkland’s actions in Designated Survivor, the 24 hero would still find a way to work with him.

“[Jack Bauer has] a very strong moral compass and that’s what guided him. So I think whether Jack Bauer is politically or ideologically in sync with President Tom Kirkman, I think he would respect who he was as a man, and he would also do what his job was,” shares Mr. Sutherland.

Even so, Kiefer says he does see some similarities between the two characters. He says both men take on challenges that seem beyond their capabilities and, through hard work and raw determination, are capable of achieving what had once seemed impossible.

“I’m always interested in the story of somebody who by of series of circumstances is put in a position to kind of take on insurmountable laws with really no chance of completely winning and they take it on anyway. They usually take it on for a very righteous reason,” adds Sutherland.

Designated Survivor premieres tonight on ABC.

[Featured Image by Mike Windle/Getty Images]