As reported a month ago, Ethan Hawke really wants to be television’s next Jack Bauer. His new starring vehicle, Exit Strategy, has gotten an official pilot order from Fox, which should put it in line for a Fall 2011 premiere, should it get a full series pickup.
Exit Strategy is produced by Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci — co-creators of Fringe, and two of the hottest writer/producers in Hollywood — but it sounds like it has more in common with Alias than 24. Hawke leads a 5-member team of special CIA agents who are sent into the field to extract fellow operatives when a mission goes bad. Exit Strategy is expected to tackle a different crisis in a new country in each episode. No word yet on whether the show will showcase any of Kurtzman & Orci’s signature love of mythology (which they likely picked up from pal J.J. Abrams).
What’s more, the pilot will be directed by big-screen director Antoine Fuqua, who worked with Hawke on Training Day and Brooklyn’s Finest. David Guggenheim wrote the script, and Hawke himself will serve as the show’s producer (much like Kiefer Sutherland did on 24).