More than two decades after its debut, the cult classic “28 Days Later” is set for a sequel. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Danny Boyle and Alex Garland, the creative forces behind the original film, are joining forces once again for “28 Years Later.” The film will hit studios, streamers and other potential buyers later this week. Both Boyle and Garland will take out the package and handle the sale. This highly anticipated sequel not only revives the iconic franchise, but also has the potential to kick off a trilogy if successful.
Considered one of the greatest zombie movies of all time, this update shows great promise for the sequel. 28 Days Later director Danny Boyle, writer Alex Garland and actor Cillian Murphy (28 Days Later, Oppenheimer) offered a promising update in a recent interview with Inverse and Collider.
In a recent interview with Inverse, Garland said “I held out for a long time because there were things about 28 weeks that bothered me. I just thought, “Fk this.” I’d rather try to write another story in another world. But a few years ago an idea materialized in my head for what would really be 28 years later. Danny always liked the idea.”
Danny Boyle said later “So we talk about it quite seriously, quite diligently. If he doesn’t want to direct it himself, I’ll be fine with that if we can execute an equally good idea.
Then, in a recent interview with Collider, Murphy said “I was talking to Danny Boyle recently and I said, ‘Danny, we shot the movie at the end of 2000.’ So I think we’re definitely approaching 28 years later. But like I’ve always said, I’m ready for it. I would love to do it. If Alex [Garland] I think there’s a script in it and Danny wants to do it, I’d love to do it.”
28 Days Later was released in 2002 and follows the story of Jim (Cillian Murphy) who wakes up from a coma only to find that the town he is in is deserted. He later learns that a mysterious aggression-inducing virus has swept through the United Kingdom and turned everyone into flesh-eating zombies. The first film was a financial success, earning $84.6 million on an $8 million budget. It was considered one of the best zombie films of the genre, and its success ended up spawning a sequel called 28 Weeks Later.
28 Weeks Later was released in 2007, but it didn’t bring back Boyle to direct, Garland to write, and Murphy not to return. The film was not as successful as the first and only brought in $65.8 million on a $15 million budget. Still considered a decent sequel by fans, it never caught the greatness of the first film. This eventually stopped a third film and had many failed attempts.
This is very promising news and an important leap forward in this sequel. Are you excited that this movie is closer to happening and that it will follow the story of the first movie? Do you prefer the title 28 Months Later or 28 Years Later? Let us know in the comments below. Also, check out trailers for the first 2 movies below.