It is the 50th Anniversary of the completion of principal photography of the original Manchurian Candidate.The film was released on October 24, 1962. It is an homage that was placed in the film as the character of Jerry is a Manchurian Candidate in his own right.

4/24 is also the day before Richard Donner the Director's birthday.

Screenwriters, producers, Directors, Hollywood in general does this all the time. It is not a secret code forecasting apocalypse. It is GEEK-CHIC by dropping a strange reference that only insiders will know.

For example, now I am going to play old jewish woman at the bakery, means I am going to take a crap. Because old jewish ladies will pinch the bread loaves to test for freshness. Hence pinching a loaf.