With Cillian Murphy teasing his return as Jim, what else do we know about 28 Years Later, and can Jim be contaminated?

Fans of the 2002 movie 28 Days Later and its follow-up 28 Weeks Later have been ready seventeen years for an additional entry within the franchise, hoping we’d sometime see a film known as 28 Months Later. We’re not getting that one, however 28 Days Later director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland are at present engaged on reviving the franchise, they usually’re going to make this revival well worth the wait. Not solely are we getting a brand new film known as 28 Years Later, however we’re really getting a complete trilogy of sequels! Sony simply reported that the movie is ready for a June twentieth, 2025 release date. But what else do we know about this 28 Years Later sequel trilogy.

LONG IN THE WORKS

Way again in 2009, we heard that Paul Andrew Williams (The Cottage) was on board to direct 28 Months Later… however that undertaking didn’t make it into manufacturing. Since then, we’ve heard Boyle and Garland point out 28 Months Later each now and again. They would say there was an ideal concept for the sequel, then later say it’d by no means occur. In a 2022 interview, Boyle mentioned Garland had already written the script, and it’d lastly be the time to make it right into a film. In the center of 2023, the collaborators confirmed to Inverse that they had been having severe talks in regards to the sequel, which they had been calling 28 Years Later. Garland mentioned, “Just a few years in the past an concept materialized in my head for what can be actually 28 Years Later. Danny all the time appreciated the thought.“ Boyle added, “So we’re speaking about it fairly significantly, fairly diligently. If he doesn’t need to direct it himself I’ll be effectively up for it if we can execute a equally good concept.“

28 Weeks Later wasn’t as profitable as its predecessor, making $65.8 million on a funds of $15 million vs. 28 Days Later‘s $84.6 million on a budget of $8 million. That’s a part of the rationale why one other sequel hasn’t occurred sooner – together with the truth that Garland wasn’t overly happy with the 2007 sequel 28 Weeks Later, which he didn’t write. Garland instructed Inverse, “I resisted [making a sequel] for a very long time as a result of there have been issues about 28 Weeks that bugged me. I simply thought, ‘F*ck that. I’d quite attempt to write a distinct story in a distinct world.’“ Now he’s prepared to jot down not only one however three new tales within the 28 Days Later world. No plot particulars have been revealed.

DIRECTORS

Alex Garland is anticipated to jot down the scripts for all three of the 28 Years Later films, however apparently didn’t need to direct them. Danny Boyle will solely be directing the primary one. For the second movie, probably titled 28 Years Later Part 2, he’ll be passing the helm over to The Marvels and Candyman director Nia DaCosta. Production on DaCosta’s sequel will start instantly after Boyle wraps filming on his. They wished to have the sequel director signed on earlier than filming on the primary film begins, as they need to “make sure each director is on the same page in regard to the story while also having time to bring their own vision to life.”

CILLIAN MURPHY

In 28 Days Later, Cillian Murphy performed bicycle courier Jim, who wakes up from a coma to search out himself in an apocalyptic England that’s overrun by individuals who have been contaminated by a rage virus. Boyle and Garland went via a number of endings for the movie earlier than touchdown on the one movie-goers noticed in theatres – and that ending was the one one the place Jim survived. So he’s nonetheless on the market, able to dwell via one other rage virus nightmare 28 years later. If Boyle and Garland determine to place him within the story.

While doing the press rounds for Oppenheimer final 12 months, Murphy instructed Collider, “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 the 28 Years Later. But like I’ve always said, I’m up for it. I’d love to do it. If Alex [Garland] thinks there’s a script in it and Danny wants to do it, I’d love to do it.“ Despite the fact that Murphy is willing to reprise the role of Jim and is returning as an executive producer on 28 Years Later, we still haven’t heard confirmation that he’ll actually be in the movie. While talking to Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast a couple months ago, Murphy said (with thanks to Coming Soon for the transcription), “It’s for (Danny Boyle and Alex Garland) to speak about, I suppose, but I think it’s been brewing for a while. The first movie was so important for me, as an actor. I love working with those guys. Alex has an idea. And Danny directing is just huge. Watch this space.”

In the tip, it appears as if Murphy can be again, with the actor teasing his return to the franchise in a “surprising way”.

WILL JIM BE ONE OF THE INFECTED?

While some would possibly assume meaning Jim has turn out to be one of many contaminated within the 28 years because the first movie, the actor did point out that his return can be in a manner that grows. Presumably, meaning he’ll have a smaller position within the first film of the trilogy, however play a much bigger half within the subsequent two movies. That doesn’t imply he WON’T be contaminated although, because it’s potential Jim may play a member of the contaminated who begins to regain his humanity, form of in a manner that would pay tribute to probably the most well-known zombie of the all, Day of the Dead‘s Bub.

CAST

While we wait to listen to what Murphy’s position can be, different casting information has been popping up. Industry scooper Daniel Richtman had shared the rumor that Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) and Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy) had been in talks to play the lead roles. Deadline has since reported that they’ve heard Comer is certainly within the forged, together with Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Bullet Train) and Ralph Fiennes (Skyfall). There has been no additional phrase about Hunnam’s involvement, and it appears like he’s now not on the docket. However, just lately Jack O’Connell was added to the forged in a supporting position, with the excitement being that his character is supposed to emerge as a lead in follow-up films. Details on the characters these actors is perhaps taking part in are, in fact, being stored beneath wraps.

DISTRIBUTION

There was a bidding conflict over the distribution rights to the 28 Years Later trilogy, with Warner Bros. and Sony rising as the ultimate opponents – and Sony taking the win ultimately. According to The Hollywood Reporter, “Each movie will have a budget in the $60 million range but it’s unclear how goalposts or compensation may have changed during the high-stakes negotiations. A theatrical release was of great import to the filmmakers.” Sony had an edge on this race as a result of the truth that it’s headed up by Tom Rothman, who was at Fox and labored with Boyle on eight completely different films there. Release dates haven’t but been introduced.

Boyle and Garland are producing 28 Years Later. Bernie Bellew can also be producing, as are authentic producer Andrew Macdonald, and Peter Rice, who was the pinnacle of Fox Searchlight Pictures when that firm backed 28 Days Later. As talked about, Murphy is government producing.

And that’s everything we know in regards to the 28 Years Later trilogy at this level. Are you wanting ahead to those movies? Let us know by leaving a remark under.