More than 20 years after the release of the influential zombie film 28 Days Later, director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland are making a comeback in the horror genre with their highly anticipated follow-up, 28 Years Later. The original 28 Days Later was a major force in kicking off the zombie trend of the 2000s. It tells the story of Jim, a regular bike courier played by Cillian Murphy, who wakes up from a month-long coma to discover that London has been overrun by a terrifying zombie rage virus. Unlike the slow, lumbering zombies from before, these zombies in 28 Days Later were faster, more aggressive, and much scarier.
Although Boyle and Garland weren’t directly involved in the 2007 sequel 28 Weeks Later, which continued the story in a post-apocalyptic setting and received positive reviews, the franchise they started was crucial in reviving the zombie genre. It influenced other films and TV shows, such as the Dawn of the Dead remake, the comedy Shaun of the Dead, and the popular Walking Dead series. Now, Boyle and Garland are back with 28 Years Later, aiming to bring even more thrills and chills, and they have plans for a broader sequel series to continue the story.
Latest news on ’28 Years Later’
Production on 28 Years Later kicked off in May 2024, and to everyone’s surprise, filming has already wrapped up (as reported by Collider). The filmmakers seem to have sped up the process to meet the movie’s scheduled release in June 2025. The film was shot over a little more than two months in the UK before completing its main filming. While details about the plot remain under wraps, we can expect more information to come out as the movie moves through the post-production phase.
28 Years Later Release date: When will the thriller release?
Since the project was first announced, there have been plenty of updates about 28 Years Later. The film now has an official release date: it’s set to hit theaters on June 20, 2025. The summer release is perfect for what could be a major blockbuster. As of now, there are no details about the release dates for the second and third movies in the planned trilogy.
In other news, Nia DaCosta, known for directing Candyman, is being considered to direct the second film in the trilogy.
28 Years Later Cast
The cast for 28 Years Later is slowly coming together, but many details remain under wraps. Cillian Murphy, who starred in 28 Days Later and survived the story, will return to his role as Jim, despite his absence in the first sequel. Murphy is also involved as a producer for the new film. Alongside him, Aaron Taylor-Johnson has been announced as a cast member.
In addition, Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes are set to join the cast, though their specific roles haven’t been revealed yet. Jack O’Connell is also part of the cast, and his character is particularly intriguing because he will be featured throughout the entire trilogy. While we don’t know the extent of Fiennes’ and Taylor-Johnson’s roles, O’Connell’s character is expected to play a significant part across all three movies.
Here’s what we know about the cast of 28 Years Later so far:
- Cillian Murphy will return as Jim, a role he first played in 28 Days Later.
- Aaron Taylor-Johnson has been cast, but his role is still unknown.
- Jodie Comer is also on board, though her role hasn’t been revealed yet.
- Ralph Fiennes will appear in the film, but details about his character are still under wraps.
- Jack O’Connell has been cast as well, with his role remaining undisclosed.
- Erin Kellyman will join the ensemble, though her part is yet to be announced.
- Edvin Ryding is also part of the cast, but specifics about his role are not yet known
28 Years Later plot details
Although no specific story details for 28 Years Later have been revealed yet, the title hints at a significant time jump to explore the long-term effects of the virus outbreak. Originally, there was a script for 28 Months Later (according to Variety), but now Alex Garland and Danny Boyle are shifting focus to 28 Years Later.
The ending of 28 Days Later provided a hopeful conclusion, suggesting the infected were gone, but the virus made a comeback in the sequel. 28 Weeks Later ended on a darker note, with survivors fleeing to Paris only to discover it was also overrun by infected. Given this background, it’s likely that the third movie will revisit the virus from 28 Days Later, but it’s unclear whether the world has been in ruins since the end of the second film or if the scenario will involve a different type of chaos.