Everything we know about 28 Years Later

Danny Boyle and Alex Garland are re-teaming for 28 Years Later. Here’s what we know about the zombie movie sequel, including the new cast and possible story.

It’s one of the most iconic, disquieting images of early 2000s cinema: a lone Cillian Murphy in his hospital drabs, carrying a polybag of scavenged cans and snacks, wandering a Vanilla Sky’d London. Little did he know, it had been almost a month since the world ended.

28 Days Later is one of the best horror movies ever made; not only is it a terrifying, heart-rending experience in its own right, but the innovation of sprinting zombies became its most influential staple. Then we got 28 Weeks Later, a weaker follow-up with one of the most chilling opening sequences of the decade.

While the duo served as executive producers on the sequel, they’re returning for three new movies. The first is 28 Years Later, instead of 28 Months Later.

Is there a 28 Years Later release date?

28 Years Later doesn’t have a release date. It began filming in May 2024 and wrapped soon after in July 2024.

The cast and crew are all set to return to filming after a short break, however, with the second of three movies, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, set to be filmed over the coming months as well.

With hopes that 28 Years Later could launch a new trilogy, the full package was shopped around to various production companies, streamers, and other prospective buyers before ultimately landing at Sony.

Boyle directs the first installment. Part 2 will be written by Garland and directed by Nia DaCosta (Candyman, The Marvels).

Exactly when we might see the first installment is still unknown. Though with filming now complete and the production on the second flick soon to be underway, it might not be too long a wait. Late 2025 or early 2026 certainly seems in the cards.

Amazingly, as reported by Wired, the threequel has been shot entirely on an iPhone 15 (with a few accessories).

28 Years Later cast

28 Years Later stars Cillian Murphy, Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes, and Jack O’Connell.

Murphy will also produce 28 Years Later, and in May 2024, it was confirmed he would reprise his role from the original movie. Speaking with Deadline, Sony chairman Tom Rothman confirmed Murphy’s Jim would be back, “but in a surprising way that grows.”

Speaking about the legacy of the series, Comer told CinemaBlend she’s trying not to think about the aspect too much. “Thinking about 28 Years Later, and to consider working with someone like Danny Boyle, who is an incredibly innovative and confident filmmaker? Like, as an actor, to think, ‘Oh, I’m gonna be on set, and have that sort of direction and person leading the way,’ is really really exciting,” she said.

What could the 28 Years Later plot be?

While no synopsis has been shared, we’ll likely see the UK (and perhaps the wider world) nearly three decades after the original outbreak in 28 Years Later.

Searchlight Pictures

While the first movie ended on a hopeful note, with Murphy and his cohorts surviving the epidemic long enough for the infected to die of starvation, 28 Weeks Later had a haunting final frame: Flynn picks up Andy and Tammy from Wembley after killing Don, and he flies them across the English Channel to France. But he doesn’t realize that Andy is carrying the virus.

Seconds later, we see a horde of zombies running through Paris towards the Eiffel Tower — the virus has made it to continental Europe.

This is where Years Later will probably pick up, which is exciting.

28 Years Later budget

The budget for 28 Years Later is reportedly around the $60m mark. A good chunk of this no doubt went to the star-studded cast.

For comparison, 28 Days Later was made on a modest $8m budget, while 28 Weeks Later jumped to a $15m budget.

Is there a trailer?

There’s no 28 Years Later trailer yet, but considering the film has already wrapped production, we could see a teaser by the end of the year, if not early 2025.

In the meantime, it seems Da Costa’s sequel will be titled 28 Years Later Part II: The Bone Temple, according to a listing on the United States Copyright Office website.

In the meantime, check out more horror with what we know about Beetlejuice 2 or Blade. Or, get your zombie fill with The Walking Dead: Dead City cast and watch all The Walking Dead spin-offs.