28 Years Later

28 Years Later
Teaser poster
Directed by	Danny Boyle
Written by	Alex Garland
Produced by	Danny Boyle Alex Garland Andrew Macdonald Peter Rice Bernie Bellew
Starring	Jodie Comer Aaron Taylor-Johnson Ralph Fiennes
Cinematography	Anthony Dod Mantle
Edited by	Jon Harris
Production companies	Columbia Pictures British Film Institute DNA Films Decibel Films
Distributed by	Sony Pictures Releasing
Release date	June 20, 2025 (2025-06-20)
Countries	United Kingdom United States
Language	English
Budget	$75 million

28 Years Later is an upcoming post-apocalyptic horror film produced and directed by Danny Boyle, and written by Alex Garland. It is the third film in the 28 Days Later series, following 28 Days Later (2002) and 28 Weeks Later (2007). It stars Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes. The film marks the returns of Boyle, Garland, and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle to the series, all of whom worked on the original 28 Days Later film, with that film's star Cillian Murphy also serving as an executive producer.

It is scheduled to be released in the United Kingdom and the United States by Sony Pictures Releasing on 20 June 2025. It was shot on iPhones back-to-back with its sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple which was directed by Nia DaCosta, written by Garland, and produced by Boyle.

Premise

It’s been almost three decades since the Rage Virus escaped a medical research laboratory, and in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst the infected. One such group of survivors lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily-defended causeway. When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, they discover secrets, wonders, and horrors of the outside world.

Cast

Main article: List of characters in the 28 Days Later film series

• Jodie Comer
• Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Jamie
• Ralph Fiennes
• Jack O'Connell
• Alfie Williams
• Erin Kellyman
• Edvin Ryding as E. Sundqvist
• Cillian Murphy as Jim

Production

Development

In June 2007, Fox Atomic confirmed development on a third 28 Days Later film, dependent upon the financial performance of 28 Weeks Later following its home video release. In July of the same year, Danny Boyle said that the story for a third installment had been mapped out. By October 2010, Alex Garland stated that due to differences involving the film rights, the project had been delayed. In January 2011, Boyle stated that he believed the project would be realised, stating confirming further developments for the story. By April 2013, however, the filmmaker expressed uncertainty as to whether the movie would be made. In January 2015, Garland addressed the project's status, confirming that while it had fallen into development hell there were serious discussions going on behind the scenes to produce the project. Reiterating that development was progressing, stating that the script he was working on would tentatively be titled 28 Months Later. In June 2019, Boyle confirmed that he and Garland had been working on the third installment. In March 2020, Imogen Poots expressed interest in reprising her role from the second film, followed by Cillian Murphy in May 2021.

In November 2022, Boyle, Garland and actor Murphy all indicated their interest in making a sequel to 28 Days Later. In June 2023, Boyle and Garland expressed in collaboration their intentions to "seriously" and "diligently" see the project enter production; while announcing that the script was now titled 28 Years Later, acknowledging the years it had taken to be developed. Boyle stated that he would like to serve as director, unless Garland chooses to. By July of the same year, Murphy stated that he had recently discussed the possibility of a third film with Boyle; once again expressing interest in reprising his role if Boyle and Garland return to the franchise in their creative roles.

In January 2024, it was announced that a third film titled 28 Years Later was officially in development; with plans for the project to be the first of a new trilogy of sequels. Danny Boyle will direct the first installment, with a script written by Alex Garland; while the latter will also write the scripts for each of planned sequels. Boyle, Garland, Andrew Macdonald, and Peter Rice will serve as producers. In February of the same year, Murphy discussed his potential involvement with the project; that same month, MacDonald had bought back the rights to the first film from Searchlight Pictures, promptly selling it to Sony Pictures for future distribution, as well as rights to future sequels. In March 2024, Garland confirmed that he is writing a trilogy of sequel films. The following month, the writer stated that the film Kes was a major influence on his work for 28 Years Later. Murphy was revealed as an executive producer later that month.

The film was produced by Columbia Pictures in association with the British Film Institute, Decibel Films, and DNA Films.

Casting

In April, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes were cast to star, with Jack O'Connell joining the cast, and Murphy being confirmed to reprise his role as Jim. Erin Kellyman was added to the cast in June.

Filming

Principal photography began on 7 May 2024, in Northumberland, with Anthony Dod Mantle serving as the cinematographer. Filming wrapped on 29 July. The film was notably shot on an iPhone 15 Pro Max with the aid of numerous specialised attachments.

Filming mainly took place in the north of England, in the North East and Yorkshire and the Humber regions. Locations include Holy Island (Lindisfarne) off the Northumberland Coast, Hexham, Bellingham, Kielder Forest, Rothbury (Northumberland), Newcastle upon Tyne (Tyne and Wear), Waskerley (County Durham), Melsonby, Ripon, Fountains Abbey, Aysgarth Falls, Redmire (North Yorkshire) and Bradford (West Yorkshire). Some scenes were filmed at Plankey Mill Farm, near Langley and Bardon Mill (Northumberland). In addition, some filming took place in Cheddar Gorge in Somerset in South West England.

Release

28 Years Later is scheduled to be released in the United Kingdom, United States and Canada by Sony Pictures Releasing on 20 June 2025.

The full 1915 recording of Taylor Holmes' recital of "Boots" that was notably used in edited form in the film's first trailer.

The first trailer was released on December 10, 2024. It features the 1903 poem "Boots" by Rudyard Kipling, recited by American actor Taylor Holmes in 1915. The trailer became #1 trending on YouTube, and in 48 hours had over 10 million views. Stuart Heritage, the film critic for The Guardian, particularly noted the use of Holmes's spoken-word recording of "Boots" and commented "As of now, though, it’s just about the most exciting film of 2025. And this is entirely down to its trailer." The trailer's viral success lead to Sony's decision to re-release the original 28 Days Later film on digital platforms on December 18, 2024, two years after it had been made unavailable by its former distributor Disney.

Sequel

Main article: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

In April 2024, Nia DaCosta was reportedly in negotiations to direct a sequel to the film, the second part of a planned trilogy, with Boyle, Garland, Macdonald, Rice, and Bernie Bellew attached as producers. In June 2024, via a copyright filing, the title of the film was seemingly revealed to be 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.

On 18 August 2024, during a talk at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, Macdonald confirmed DaCosta would be directing the sequel and said that principal photography was set to begin the following day. Macdonald also talked about potential plans for a third 28 Years Later film, saying "we hope there is going to be a third part" and "there is a trilogy".

External links

• 28 Years Later at IMDb