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Danny Boyle and Alex Garland are reuniting to make 28 Years Later, and Sony is distributing the film globally. Here’s the latest on what we know, including the casting and the 2025 release date, and whether our favorite bike messenger Cillian Murphy will be returning.
January 11, 2024: 7,502 days after the original movie was released, there might be a second sequel to 28 Days Later, possibly even more. The Hollywood Reporter shares that Danny Boyle and Alex Garland are reuniting to make 28 Years Later and are shopping the movie to potential buyers this week. Lucky for the buyer, they’re not just going to get one movie; the duo hopes to relaunch this franchise with three films in total. Garland plans to write all three and Boyle is signed up to direct the first one. The first film stars current Oscar hopeful Cillian Murphy, who wakes up from a coma to a contagious, deadly disease that turns humans into zombies. 2007’s 28 Weeks Later takes place after the initial outbreak and is a stand-alone film following different survivors (Robert Carlyle, Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner, Harold Perrineau, and Catherine McCormack). Rumors of a third movie have been spreading as early as 2015; now we’re one zombie step closer.
April 24, 2024: According to Deadline, Jodie Comer (Killing Eve), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Bullet Train) and Ralph Fiennes (The Menu) will be our latest group of Brits fighting off the undead. The film will also be the first in a trilogy, with 28 Years Later and 28 Years Later 2: Uhhhh…29 Years Later? (our suggestion) filming back-to-back. Boyle is reportedly directing the first film, and Candyman director Nia DaCosta will direct the second.
May 10, 2024: Sony Pictures has set a date for 28 Years Later — count the days until June 20, 2025. Now, 28 Days Later came out in June 2003, which means there’s a 22-year gap between those films. Just six more years, and the title would have really hit different, huh?
May 19, 2024: In an interview with Deadline, Sony’s Tom Rothman said Cillian Murphy would be returning to the 28-iverse. But in a new, freaky way. When asked if Murphy would appear in 28 Years Later, he said “Yes, but in a surprising way and in a way that grows, let me put it that way.” So, like, he’s a zombie? Sounds like he’s going to cameo as a zombie. “I think I’ve made eight movies with Danny Boyle and I hold him in the Pantheon and we have his new 28 Days trilogy,” Rothman said. “It’s 28 Years Later, but not in any way a literal sequel.” Except that Cillian Muprhy is literally returning.
