AceShowbiz -

"24" is nearing the end of its cycle. Variety reports that 20th Century Fox TV which produces the Emmy-winning series is ending the show after eight seasons. The studio and FOX would not comment on this but a final decision is expected within the next few days. Should the report is true, then "24" will pull down the curtain on May 24 with a two-hour finale.

While the official announcement is yet to be made, the show's rating this season provides a support to the move. "24" usually rakes in more than 11 million viewers in average with the highest being 13 million in season 5. Although this season is not falling below the par, the production cost is increasing especially with the additional actors.

Variety also said that once a critical darling, "24" has received several criticism from movie experts for its current season. Cherry Jones earned an Emmy nod for Supporting Actress last year but the show missed its moment at the Golden Globes in the last three years.

There is a plan to pitch the show to other networks but since the production cost will still be a factor, not many outlets are expected to pick it up. Another thing is, the "24" team is keen on adapting the show into a feature film following the success of its TV movie version. The cancellation of the series actually could provide time and money for this film production.