Early look at '24': 7

So what can viewers expect from season seven of "24" after the strike wiped away the 2007-08 year?

The show had completed eight episodes, including shooting in Washington, D.C., says executive producer Manny Coto. "Jack Bauer is under Senate investigation for crimes against humanity," Coto adds.

But while Jack is in Washington, FBI agent Renee Walker brings him in to deal with a series of possible terrorist attacks instigated by former CTU agent Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard), previously presumed dead. "Jack's thrust into this mystery of how Tony is still alive, and why is he trying to bring down this country?"

Coto says a two-hour "prequel" TV movie is expected to air this fall, which will bring Kiefer Sutherland's Jack Bauer to Africa and "lead directly into the events of Season Seven."

"He's a soul in turmoil and has been moving from place to place trying to find somewhere he can be at peace," Coto says. "But he winds up in Africa in the middle of a military coup."

Meanwhile, Bauer is subpoenaed to appear before the Senate hearing while in Africa, but doesn't want to go.

"He's not running away from anything," Coto says. "It's because they've taken everything from him, but they won't let them take his freedom."