The long-awaited sequel to Danny Boyle’s 2002 hit intensifies the terror as zombies remain as deadly as ever.
Sony Pictures unveiled a thrilling new look at 28 Years Later, the highly anticipated sequel to Danny Boyle’s groundbreaking 2002 film 28 Days Later, during CinemaCon in Las Vegas on Monday evening. This third installment in the franchise brings audiences back to a post-apocalyptic world where survival is a constant battle against flesh-eating zombies.
Set 28 years after the outbreak of the Rage virus that devastated the world, the story takes place on a remote English island, where humanity has found a fragile existence amidst the chaos. The island is heavily guarded, offering a rare glimmer of safety as survivors cling to life.
“I still love an apocalypse,” Boyle said enthusiastically on stage. “I love killing the infected. I still love blowing stuff up. That’s how my agent describes my best work.”
Boyle’s enthusiasm for the franchise was evident as he introduced a full trailer, shown exclusively to exhibitors, which escalates the terror from an earlier teaser released earlier this year. The new footage reveals disturbing imagery, including monuments constructed from human skulls scattered across the remnants of the United Kingdom. Jump scares are abundant, many of which rely on suspenseful sound design, heightening the tension.
The film follows characters portrayed by Taylor-Johnson and newcomer Alfie Williams as they journey from the island into the mainland. Nearly three decades have passed since the outbreak, and the zombies, hungrier than ever, are still a deadly force.
An eerie voiceover by Ralph Fiennes, fresh off his role in the 2024 film Conclave, narrates the trailer as a survivor from the initial outbreak. In a chilling moment, fans are treated to close-up shots of Cillian Murphy’s iconic character, whose skeletal form continues to terrorize the countryside.
28 Years Later is the second installment of a planned trilogy following 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later. Director Danny Boyle confirmed that the third film, titled 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, is already in the works, with Nia DaCosta, director of the Candyman reboot, currently editing the project.
Boyle, now 68, revealed during the presentation that Sony’s movie chief has only greenlit funding for the first two sequels, with the future of the third film still uncertain. The director urged exhibitors to support the release of 28 Years Later to ensure the completion of the trilogy.
The sequel is penned by Alex Garland, the acclaimed indie filmmaker behind the original screenplay. Garland reunites with Boyle and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle, who won an Oscar for Slumdog Millionaire. Cillian Murphy, star of the first film, returns as an executive producer.
Joining Taylor-Johnson in the cast are Jodie Comer, Jack O’Connell, MMA fighter Chi Lewis-Parry, and Mayor of Kingstown star Emma Laird. 28 Years Later is slated for a wide release on June 20.
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