Get ready to run for your life because “28 Years Later” has been officially confirmed! This is the sequel to the apocalyptic masterpiece “28 Days Later,” which, just so you know, wasn’t exactly a zombie movie but more of a chaotic pandemic piece. Directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland, this sequel marks their first collaboration since 2007’s “Sunshine.” In “28 Years Later,” expect fast-moving zombies and another intense journey through a post-apocalyptic world.
In the original film released in 2002, Cillian Murphy’s character emerges from a hospital to find London completely deserted, with not a soul in sight. This deserted cityscape might sound somewhat idyllic, especially after years of being crammed into crowded tube trains.
The sequel, “28 Weeks Later,” took on a more action-packed approach, with a different creative team at the helm. Directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and written by various collaborators including Rowan Joffé, the film was likened to “Aliens” compared to Danny Boyle’s original “Alien.” It emphasized more shooty-shooty violence and focused on a group of U.S. soldiers tasked with rebuilding the capital, only to encounter a lot of death along the way.
For a while, there’s been talk of a second sequel, often referred to as “28 Months Later.” This sequel was expected to follow the cliffhanger of “28 Weeks Later,” where we see rage-infected individuals storming the Champ de Mars, indicating that the infection has spread beyond its island quarantine. However, “28 Months Later” never materialized. Instead, we now have “28 Years Later” on the horizon.
Danny Boyle, Alex Garland, and even Cillian Murphy are all returning.
After lots of bidding battles, 28 Years Later has at last landed at Sony. The follow-up will bring together Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland after 17 years, with another sequel planned as part of the deal, as reported by The Cinematics world. Additionally, Cillian Murphy, who’s a favorite for the Oscar in Oppenheimer, is set to be an executive producer, sparking rumors that he might reprise one of his memorable early roles.
According to movie trade magazines, each film in the package is set to have a budget of about $65 million, a significant increase from the previous 28 movies, which were made for $8 and $15 million respectively. This suggests that Sony has a lot of confidence in the sequel package; you only invest that much money in a project if you believe it will be profitable (and more) in return. The 28 franchise has been profitable in the past and hasn’t been explored much lately. Plus, the reputations of Boyle, Garland, and Murphy have only grown since the first film, so it makes sense to invest more financially.
28 Years Later looks to kick off an entirely new trilogy
As per The Cinematics world, Boyle and Garland, the latter now a respected director himself with works like Annihilation and Ex Machina, aim to begin a fresh trilogy within the 28 universe. Boyle will direct the initial movie, with Garland handling the scripts for all three, aligning with recent discussions indicating Garland’s shift away from directing duties.
The goal is to replicate the success of George Miller’s Fury Road, a highly acclaimed sequel in the Mad Max series, now hailed as one of the greatest action films ever made.
Cillian Murphy Could be starring
Before this week’s official announcement, speculation about a new 28 sequel had been circulating in the media. The Independent brought up the possibility with Cillian Murphy while he was occupied with Oppenheimer. He responded positively, saying, “That’s great to hear. I didn’t know that—I would be there in a flash. I made two movies with both of those guys, and I would love to work with them again. Of course, I’m there.”
Originally, Murphy’s character Jim was supposed to die in 28 Days Later, but the final cut of the film shows him surviving. Therefore, it’s not far-fetched to imagine reuniting with him all these years later — perhaps he’s still friends with Naomie Harris’ character, Selena?
However, it remains to be seen whether Murphy will take on both on-screen and production roles. But one thing is certain: having Murphy in 28 Years Later would likely boost ticket sales. We’ll just have to wait and see.
