Following the great success of the 28 Days Later franchise, whose first film starred Oscar winner Cillian Murphy (who will now be an executive producer), the arrival of a sequel titled “28 Years Later” was announced.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes and Jodie Comer will combine their talents to bring to life the highly anticipated sequel, which will hit the screen 22 years after the debut of the first installment in the saga.
Both the director and the screenwriter of the original films, Danny Boyle and Alex Garland, will be returning to fulfill their roles in this new project, which aims to establish a new trilogy of post-apocalyptic horror.
Will Cillian Murphy return as Jim?
Attention fans! Sony Pictures and Deadline have confirmed that Cillian Murphy will not only be one of the producers of the sequel but will also return to star alongside the main cast, which is full of mega stars.
Tom Rothman, president of Sony Motion Pictures Group, spoke with the major outlet and confirmed that the actor is ready to reprise his role as Jim, the bicycle messenger who survived the Rage virus.
During the interview, he assured, “Yes, but in a surprising and growing way, let me put it that way. This is Danny [Boyle] at his best, combined with a very commercial genre, as we had with Edgar Wright and ‘Baby Driver.’ Sometimes when you put a real director in a commercial realm, it elevates it“.
The star-studded cast of 28 Years Later: All the names
- Aaron Taylor-Johnson
- Ralph Fiennes
- Jodie Comer
- Jack O’Connell
- Cillian Murphy as Jim
What will ’28 Years Later’ be about?
Despite the project still being in pre-production and the official plot remaining a mystery, rumors have already begun circulating, suggesting that the story will be better than the previous installments.
Set 28 years after the original events, the movie will feature iconic zombies as fast, lethal, and terrifying beings, unlike those we know from other titles, like The Walking Dead and Zombieland.
The three protagonists will drive the scenes and the entire drama, confirming that the film will have ample amounts of horror, chases, post-apocalyptic landscapes and unexpected twists.
When will ’28 Years Later’ be released?
Despite the most important details of the movie remaining a mystery, the release date of “28 Years Later” on the big screen has been revealed and is currently scheduled for June 20, 2025.
Deadline confirmed that Sony Pictures will be overseeing the project and that despite not having been released yet, they have already hired director Nia DaCosta (Candyman) to direct the second installment of the new trilogy.
Apparently, the plan is to film the two installments consecutively, so they could arrive in theaters with little time between them. And if all goes well, they will have the same protagonists.
How to watch 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later online
28 Days Later (2002)
The plot revolves around a highly contagious virus that is accidentally released in the United Kingdom, wreaking havoc by turning people into violent and rabid infected individuals.
The story follows a man named Jim (played by Cillian Murphy) who wakes up in an abandoned hospital after a coma of 28 days to discover a world devastated by the infection.
Jim joins a group of survivors, including Selena (played by Naomie Harris) and a father with his daughter, as they try to find a safe place and escape from the infected.
Available for purchase or rental through Prime Video.
28 Weeks Later (2008)
The plot is set six months after the events of the first film, with the city of London now under the control of NATO forces, who are attempting to rebuild civilization after the infection outbreak has diminished.
The story follows a group of people, including Don (played by Robert Carlyle) and his wife Alice (played by Catherine McCormack), who are gathered in a safe area in London.
However, the virus reappears when Alice shows signs of being immune but a carrier of the virus. This triggers a new outbreak that unleashes chaos and violence, forcing the survivors to once again confront the infected and fight for their lives.
Available on Hulu and Prime Video.
