Summary
28 Years Laterand its planned sequels get a surprising update from producer Andrew Macdonald. Released in 2002, Danny Boyle’s28 Days Laterfollows Cillian Murphy’s Jim as he attempts to survive after the “Rage Virus” turns British citizens into zombie-like monsters. After a mixed-reviewed sequel from director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo in 2007, Boyle is set to re-team with Murphy and original movie writer Alex Garland for theupcoming28 Years Later, which is intended to serve as the first installment in a new trilogy.
Now, Macdonald reveals toTHRthat28 Years Laterhas just wrapped filming. According to the producer, work on28 Years Later Part IIis also set to get underway imminently. The planned fifth film in the franchise, however, seems less concrete at this stage, though Macdonald seems hopeful. Check out his comment below:
“We’re making, hopefully, three more 28 films with the first one called 28 Years Later that Alex has written, and Danny has directed, and has finished shooting. Then we’re just about to start, tomorrow morning, actually, part two. And then we hope there’s gonna be a third part and it’s a trilogy.”
28 Years Later Part IIis rumored to be subtitledThe Bone Temple, though this hasn’t been confirmed.
28 Days Later: The Inspiration For The Rage Virus Explained
28 Days Later introduced horror fans to the terrifying Rage Virus, and here are the frightening real world medical conditions that inspired it.
What The New 28 Years Later Update Means For The Franchise
How The New Film Can Set Up A Trilogy
While it’s generally standard Hollywood practice to wait to see how a film does at the box office before rushing into a sequel, Macdonald’s new update suggests that at least two more28 Days Latermovies are definitely coming. Macdonald doesn’t specifically say that filming is starting this week, and he could be referring to pre-production, but either way, his comments suggest thataudiences won’t have to wait long for the28 Years Latersequel. It does seem, however, that the reception to the upcoming two films could determine whether the planned trilogy-capper moves forward.
Boyle is returning to direct28 Years Later, but directing duties on the follow-up movie will pass toCandymandirector Nia DaCosta, with Garland penning the scripts for all three films. Story details on28 Years Laterand its sequels are unknown, butcharacters played by Aaron Taylor-Johnsonand Jodie Comer will be introduced in the upcoming installment, and it’s entirely possible that they will return for larger trilogy arcs. It hasn’t been confirmed, however, whether they or Murphy will be returning forPart II.
Actors Ralph Fiennes, Erin Kellyman, Jack O’Connell, Edvin Ryding, and Nathan Hall will appear in28 Years Later. Areport fromDeadlinepreviously revealed that O’Connell’s mystery character will play a supporting character in the upcoming film before becoming more of a lead in future films.
With a28 Years Later Part IIIsounding like less of a sure thing, it’s possible that the upcoming two films will serve as a semi-complete story by themselves, putting a bow on Jim’s story while also leaving the door open for more. It would be disappointing for audiences, after all, ifPart IIends on a cliffhanger but doesn’t perform well enough for the third film to get the official green light. With28 Years Laterhaving now wrapped filming, more concrete information about the film could arrive in the near future.
28 Years Later
Cast
28 Years Later follows a group of survivors living on an isolated island nearly three decades after the rage virus outbreak. Venturing into the quarantine zone of the mainland, they uncover dangerous secrets and transformations among both the infected and other surviving factions.
