A 24 prequel to satisfy fans before the seventh season's premiere aired on November 23, 2008. The two-hour television movie served as a bridge between seasons six and seven and was titled 24: Redemption.NPR: Jack Bauer's Compressed, Two Hour Redemption (November 21, 2008)

Entertainment Weekly noted that "all the really intriguing tidbits were dropped in at the end, in the extended preview of the season starting in January: Jack being brought in front of a D.C. hearings panel for human-rights violations; a shot of Chloe saying, 'I'm a stay-at-home mom'; and over the words 'One of the men behind this threat is someone you know,' a glimpse of Tony Almeda, the Man Who Will Not Die."EW: 24: Redemption (November 24, 2008)

Jack Bauer has been traveling around the globe for the past three years in order to come to terms with his past and to temporarily relieve himself from his high demand duties.San Francisco Chronicle: Jack's back from Africa on 24 (November 21, 2008)

Now in South Africa, he has dropped into a school for boys run by his former friend Carl, played by Robert Carlyle. Soon Bauer finds himself in the midst of the fictional country Sangala being overthrown by rebels and forcing the young boys in the school to convert to rebels.Newsweek: Jack's Back! (November 21, 2008)

Meanwhile, back in the United States, President Daniels is in transition of handing over his seat to President-elect Allison Taylor who is on board to become the first female president. San Francisco Chronicle: Jack's back from Africa on 24 (November 21, 2008) The U.S. government has also issued a government subpoena for Bauer to testify about his torture tactics.Newsweek: Jack's Back! (November 21, 2008)