LOS ANGELES: Freddie Prinze Jr. as Jack Bauer Jr.?

Sources said Prinze is joining the cast of the Fox series "24" as a regular, playing Davis Cole, a recently returned Marine who runs CTU Field Ops and wants to follow in the footsteps of Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland).

Prinze is one of several new cast members on the real-time drama, whose upcoming eighth season started production Wednesday. Anil Kapoor ("Slumdog Millionaire") plays a Middle East leader, Chris Diamantopoulos is the president's new chief of staff, and John Boyd is cast as a CTU systems analyst. All three are regulars, while Jennifer Westfeldt has come aboard in the recurring role of a journalist.

Also taking a recurring role on the series is Nazneen Contractor as Kapoor's daughter.

Prinze's many television credits include the 2005-2006 sitcom "Freddie," in which he starred.