Until now, very little was known about the story of 28 Years Later, apart from the fact that it is set 28 years after 28 Days Later. Even the atmospheric first trailer offered only a few hints. Yesterday, however, a set of new photos was released, and producer Andrew Macdonald clarified that not only does Cillian Murphy not appear in the trailer, but he will not feature in the film. Danny Boyle and Ralph Fiennes, who plays one of the lead roles, also shared some details about the story.
In the 2002 film 28 Days Later, Murphy played Jim, a man who wakes up from a coma to find himself in an abandoned London. As it turned out, a runaway virus had turned people into rampaging maniacs, though the infected were not slow-moving zombies—they moved with terrifying speed. The film was directed by Boyle and written by Alex Garland. Its first sequel, 28 Weeks Later (2007), was made without their involvement and ended with the implication that the virus had spread beyond the UK. In the upcoming 28 Years Later, set to release this summer, Boyle and Garland have returned to helm the project, steering the story back to the British Isles.
Boyle explained that Garland had been contemplating a follow-up for some time before coming up with the script for 28 Years Later. “It’s a completely different approach,” the director told Empire magazine, noting that nearly three decades since the outbreak, the British have adapted to post-apocalyptic conditions, while the rest of the world has been only moderately affected by the catastrophe. The new film focuses on a small community living on Lindisfarne, also known as the Holy Island. Here, viewers will meet the characters of Jamie and Isla, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jodie Comer, as well as their 12-year-old son Spike, portrayed by Alfie Williams.
The island’s residents find safety in the surrounding sea, but trouble begins when Spike must venture to the mainland for an initiation ritual.
“This is a close-knit and necessarily very cohesive community. They have strict survival laws, naturally, to endure for so long in such a permanently hostile environment. They believe they’ve created a successful society,” Boyle said.
In addition to Taylor-Johnson and Comer, the third adult lead is played by Ralph Fiennes. His character, Dr. Kelson, makes a striking entrance in the trailer, and it’s difficult to tell whether he is a friend or foe. “He’s a survivor, and he’s survived in a very intriguing way. He has some rather peculiar views about the world. I think the audience will assume certain things about him, and then we’ll see where the story takes us,” Fiennes hinted cryptically. He also revealed that Dr. Kelson will play an even larger role in The Bone Temple, the sequel to 28 Years Later set for release in 2026.
This horror film is only the first installment of a new trilogy. The second film, based on Garland’s script, has already been filmed, though Boyle will serve only as a producer, with Nia Costa directing. According to franchise producer Andrew Macdonald, Cillian Murphy might return in one of the subsequent installments. However, despite many fans mistaking one of the infected in the trailer for Jim, the actor is only an executive producer on 28 Years Later.
Regarding the misleading character in the trailer, Boyle admitted his partner had warned him: “I showed the trailer to my girlfriend, and she said, ‘People are going to think that’s Cillian.’ I told her not to be ridiculous. I didn’t listen to her. Now I’m a bit more humble,” Boyle remarked. He plans to return to the director’s chair for the trilogy’s final installment. (Empire)
