--- description: The show is described as a conspiracy tale wrapped around a family drama title: Kiefer Sutherland to Play President in New ABC Series image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1b2bdbc90402a820/69887559196cf48150039761/gettyimages-500221532.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Kiefer Sutherland to Play President in New ABC Series by [Will Robinson / Entertainment Weekly](/author/entertainment-weekly/) ## Will Robinson / Entertainment Weekly Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Dec 15, 2015 3:13 AM CUT  Actor Kiefer Sutherland poses for a portrait in Whistler Village during the 15th Annual Film Festival on Dec. 6, 2015 in Whistler, Canada. Actor Kiefer Sutherland poses for a portrait in Whistler Village during the 15th Annual Film Festival on Dec. 6, 2015 in Whistler, Canada.Andrew Chin—Getty Images by [Will Robinson / Entertainment Weekly](/author/entertainment-weekly/) ## Will Robinson / Entertainment Weekly Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Dec 15, 2015 3:13 AM CUT Kiefer Suterland, the Emmy-winning star of _24_, will lead _Designated Survivor_ at ABC, EW confirmed. The network has given the show a direct-to-series order. The series comes from creator David Guggenheim (_Safe House_) and will be executive produced by Simon Kinberg (_The Martian_) and his production company Genre Films, Sutherland, and Suzan Bymel of Entertainment 360. In the show, Sutherland plays a U.S. Cabinet member who becomes president after an attack during the State of the Union kills those above him in the presidential line of succession. It’s described as a conspiracy tale wrapped around a family drama. The show, without an episode count, marks Sutherland’s return to TV since _24: Live Another Day_ in 2014\. The lead studio on the project is Mark Gordon Company, which currently produces two ABC properties in _Grey’s Anatomy_ and _Quantico_, in addition to CBS’s _Criminal Minds_. 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