28 Years Later: Cast, plot theories, & more

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 end of the world.

28 Days Later is a touchstone for horror movies; 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.

The threequel was confirmed in early 2024.

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 reportedly directed by Nia DaCosta (Candyman, The Marvels).

It’ll come down to scheduling, but Boyle doesn’t have any other major projects on his docket, and with Garland having completed Civil War, filming commenced in the northeast of England in May 2024.

28 Years Later cast

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

Murphy will produce 28 Years Later, and in May 2024, it was confirmed Murphy would have a starring role in the film. Speaking with Deadline, Sony chairman Tom Rothman confirmed Murphy’s Jim would be back, “but in a surprising way that grows.”

Searchlight Pictures

28 Years Later cast:

• Jodie Comer
• Aaron Taylor-Johnson
• Ralph Fiennes
• Jack O’Connell

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.

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.

Is there a trailer?

There’s no 28 Years Later trailer but we may get one in 2025.

More information and trailers will likely come in the second half of 2025. Filming has to be completed before any post-production work is done. After that, we’ll get footage.

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.