'24': RIP Jack Bauer?

"24's" clock may be ticking down for the last time.

There's been speculation that this eighth season could be the FOX drama's final season, and Variety has decided to sound the show's death knell.

The trade claims that the ax will probably fall within a day or two, especially since the show's cost has been rising and the ratings have been falling.

Oh sure, there's the possibility that other stations might pick "24" up, but with its production cost, it's sounding increasingly unlikely.

A better idea is the "24" feature film, which has been idly kicked around for years, but may have more traction if the show is canceled. As Zap2it reported earlier, Billy Ray's treatment sending Jack Bauer to Europe was received well -- both by Fox film execs and Kiefer Sutherland. High cost, long production schedule? Sounds like a movie to us.

The eighth season of "24" will reportedly end with a two-hour season finale on Monday, May 24 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.