Sutherland hints at unhappy '24' ending

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Kiefer Sutherland has hinted that fans should not expect a happy ending when 24 ends.

The actor, who plays federal agent Jack Bauer in the cult show, is scheduled to begin shooting the final season later this year, with a slated 2010 air date.

However, according to The Mirror, the star is not convinced that his character will bow out on a positive note.

"I see Jack as a really human figure and there is something innately tragic about people. I think there is no winning," he said.

"We're all going to die. There's something kind of sad in that, and yet there's something really beautiful and hopeful."

However, Sutherland and the show's executive producer Howard Gordon have previously hinted at a possible 24 movie that would tie up the show's loose ends, suggesting that Bauer will not be killed off in a dramatic finale.

Last week, Gordon said: "My hope is to [do the movie] after the eighth season. That's sort of what we're aiming for. I don't think that a big screen 24 works while Jack is on TV."