''28 Years Later'' is a 2025

post-apocalyptic Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction are genres of speculative fiction in which the Earth's (or another planet's) civilization is collapsing or has collapsed. The apocalypse event may be climatic, such as runaway climate change; astronom ...

horror film Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit physical or psychological fear in its viewers. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with Transgressive art, transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements of the genre include Mo ...

produced and directed by

Danny Boyle Daniel Francis Boyle (born 20 October 1956) is an English director and producer. He is known for his work on the films ''Shallow Grave (1994 film), Shallow Grave'' (1994), ''Trainspotting (film), Trainspotting'' (1996) and its sequel ''T2 Tra ...

, and written by

Alex Garland Alexander Medawar Garland (born 26 May 1970) is an English author, screenwriter, and director. He rose to prominence with his novel '' The Beach'' (1996). He received praise for writing the Danny Boyle films '' 28 Days Later'' (2002) and '' Sun ...

. The third installment in the ''28 Days Later'' film series, following ''

28 Days Later ''28 Days Later'' (sometimes stylised with ellipsis as ''28 Days Later...'') is a 2002 post-apocalyptic horror film directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland. It stars Cillian Murphy as a bicycle courier who awakens from a coma to d ...

'' (2002) and ''

28 Weeks Later ''28 Weeks Later'' is a 2007 post-apocalyptic horror film directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, who co-wrote the screenplay with Rowan Joffé, Enrique López Lavigne and Jesus Olmo. It serves as a standalone sequel to '' 28 Days Later'' (20 ...

'' (2007), it stars

Jodie Comer Jodie Marie Comer ( ; born 11 March 1993) is an English actress of screen and stage. She began her career in an episode of '' The Royal Today'' in 2008. Comer gained recognition for appearing in the series ''My Mad Fat Diary'' (2013–2015) an ...

Aaron Taylor-Johnson Aaron Perry Taylor-Johnson (né Johnson; born 13 June 1990) is an English actor. He is known for his portrayal of the title character in '' Kick-Ass'' (2010) and its sequel '' Kick-Ass 2'' (2013), as well as the Marvel Cinematic Universe charact ...

, and

Ralph Fiennes Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes (; born 22 December 1962) is an English actor, film producer, and director. He has received List of awards and nominations received by Ralph Fiennes, various accolades, including a British Academy Film ...

. The film marks the returns of Boyle, Garland, and cinematographer

Anthony Dod Mantle Anthony Dod Mantle, (born 14 April 1955) is a British cinematographer and still photographer. He won the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography for '' Slumdog Millionaire'' (2008). Other accolades include two Bodil Awards, two ...

to the series, all of whom worked on the original film, with

Cillian Murphy Cillian Murphy ( ; born 25 May 1976) is an Irish actor. His works encompass both stage and screen, and his accolades include an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe Award. He made his professional debut in Enda Walsh's 1996 pl ...

also serving as executive producer. It is scheduled to be released in the United Kingdom and the United States by

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., Trade name, doing business as Columbia Pictures, is an American film Production company, production and Film distributor, distribution company that is the flagship unit of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group ...

through

Sony Pictures Releasing Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group (formerly known as the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group until 2013, and abbreviated as SPMPG) is a division of Sony Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment to manage its motion picture operatio ...

on June 20, 2025. It was shot

back-to-back Back to Back or back-to-back may refer to: Film and theatre *Back to Back (film), ''Back to Back'' (film), a 1996 American action film *Back-to-back film production, the practice of making two films as a unified production *Back to Back Theatre, ...

with its sequel '' 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple'' which was directed by

Nia DaCosta Nia DaCosta (born November 8, 1989) is an American filmmaker. She rose to prominence when she made her feature-length debut as a writer and director with the crime thriller film ''Little Woods'' (2018), winning the Nora Ephron Prize for Female ...

, written by Garland, and produced by Boyle and Garland.

Premise

Twenty-eight years after the Rage virus escaped a medical research laboratory, survivors have found ways to exist amidst the infected. One group lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily defended causeway. When a father and his son leave the island on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, they discover the secrets, wonders and horrors of the outside world.

Cast

as Isla, a woman who is suffering from

memory loss Amnesia is a deficit in memory caused by brain damage or brain diseases,Gazzaniga, M., Ivry, R., & Mangun, G. (2009) Cognitive Neuroscience: The biology of the mind. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. but it can also be temporarily caused by t ...

as Jamie, a scavenger and Isla's husband *

as Dr. Ian Kelson, a survivor of the outbreak * Jack O'Connell as Sir Jimmy Crystal, a cult leader with a dark past * Alfie Williams as Spike, Jamie and Isla's 12-year-old son *

Erin Kellyman Erin Mae Kellyman (born 17 October 1998) is a British actress. On television, she gained prominence through the Channel 4 sitcom '' Raised by Wolves'' (2015–2016) and the BBC series '' Les Misérables'' (2018), '' Don't Forget the Driver'' (20 ...

as Jimmy Ink, a member of Crystal’s cult *

Edvin Ryding Lars Edvin Folke Ryding (born 4 February 2003) is a Swedish actor. He is best known internationally for his starring role as Prince Wilhelm in the Netflix teen drama series ''Young Royals'' (2021–2024). He featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30, ' ...

as Erik Sundqvist, a Swedish

NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO ; , OTAN), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental organization, intergovernmental Transnationalism, transnational military alliance of 32 Member states of NATO, member s ...

soldier assigned to the

North Sea The North Sea lies between Great Britain, Denmark, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. A sea on the European continental shelf, it connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the English Channel in the south and the Norwegian Se ...

Patrol who finds himself in the mainland of

North East England North East England, commonly referred to simply as the North East within England, is one of nine official regions of England. It consists of County DurhamNorthumberland, , Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and part of northern North Yorkshire. ...

* Chi Lewis-Parry as "the Alpha", a physically imposing leader of the infected. * Emma Laird as Jimmima, a member of Crystal’s cult

Production

Development

In June 2007,

Fox Atomic Fox Atomic was a short-lived production and distribution label of film studios 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight Pictures created in 2006 to generate comedy and genre films. In 2008, following overall disappointing results, Fox Atomic scaled ...

confirmed development on a third ''28 Days Later'' film, dependent upon the financial performance of ''

'' following its home video release. In July of the same year,

said that the story for a third installment had been mapped out. By October 2010,

stated that due to differences involving the

film rights Film rights are rights under copyright law to produce a film as a derivative work of a given item of intellectual property. In US law, these rights belong to the holder of the copyright, who may sell (or " option") them to someone in the film indus ...

, the project had been delayed. In January 2011, Boyle stated that he believed the project would be realised, 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 Development hell, also known as development purgatory or development limbo, is media and software industry jargon for a project, concept, or idea that remains in a stage of early development for a long time because of legal, technical, or artistic ...

there were serious discussions going on behind the scenes to produce the project. Reiterating that development was progressing, he stated 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 Imogen Gay Poots (born 3 June 1989) is an English actress. She played Tammy in the post-apocalyptic horror film ''28 Weeks Later'' (2007), Linda Keith in the Jimi Hendrix biopic ''Jimi: All Is by My Side'' (2013), Debbie Raymond in the Paul Ray ...

expressed interest in reprising her role from the second film, followed by

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 Searchlight Pictures, Inc., formerly known as Fox Searchlight Pictures, is an American arthouse film production and distribution company, which since 2019 is owned by Walt Disney Studios, a division of the Disney Entertainment segment of the ...

, promptly selling it to

Sony Pictures Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. is an American diversified multinational mass media and entertainment studio conglomerate that produces, acquires, and distributes filmed entertainment (theatrical motion pictures, television programs, and rec ...

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, Garland stated 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

Casting

In April,

and

were cast to star, with Jack O'Connell joining the cast in May. It was initially reported that Cillian Murphy would reprise his role as Jim, but in January 2025 the film's producer Andrew Macdonald confirmed he would not appear, though he remains an executive producer.

was added to the cast in June.

Filming

Principal photography Principal photography is the phase of producing a film or television show in which the bulk of shooting takes place, as distinct from the phases of pre-production and post-production. Personnel Besides the main film personnel, such as the ...

began on 7 May 2024, in

Northumberland Northumberland ( ) is a ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in North East England, on the Anglo-Scottish border, border with Scotland. It is bordered by the North Sea to the east, Tyne and Wear and County Durham to the south, Cumb ...

, with

serving as the cinematographer. Filming wrapped on 29 July. Primarily shot on the iPhone 15 Pro Max with the aid of numerous specialised attachments, in addition to drones, other digital cameras and film cameras. Filming mainly took place in the north of England, in the North East and

Yorkshire and the Humber Yorkshire and the Humber is one of the nine official regions of England at the first level of ITL for statistical purposes. It is one of the three regions covering Northern England, alongside the North West England and North East England regio ...

regions. Locations include Holy Island (Lindisfarne) off the Northumberland Coast,

Hexham Hexham ( ) is a market town and civil parish in Northumberland, England, on the south bank of the River Tyne, formed by the confluence of the North Tyne and the South Tyne at Warden nearby, and close to Hadrian's Wall. Hexham was the administra ...

, Bellingham,

Kielder Forest Kielder Forest is a large forestry plantation in Northumberland, England, surrounding Kielder village and the Kielder Water reservoir. It is the largest man-made woodland in England with three-quarters of its covered by forest. The majority o ...

Rothbury Rothbury is a market town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in Northumberland, England, on the River Coquet. It is north-west of Morpeth, Northumberland, Morpeth and north of Newcastle upon Tyne. At the United Kingdom Census 2011, ...

(Northumberland),

Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne, or simply Newcastle ( , Received Pronunciation, RP: ), is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. It is England's northernmost metropolitan borough, located o ...

(Tyne and Wear), Waskerley (County Durham), Melsonby,

Ripon Ripon () is a cathedral city and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. The city is located at the confluence of two tributaries of the River Ure, the Laver and Skell. Within the boundaries of the historic West Riding of Yorkshire, the ...

Fountains Abbey Fountains Abbey is one of the largest and best preserved ruined Cistercians, Cistercian monasteries in England. It is located approximately south-west of Ripon in North Yorkshire, near the village of Aldfield. Founded in 1132, the abbey operat ...

Aysgarth Falls Aysgarth Falls are a triple flight of waterfalls, surrounded by woodland and farmland, carved out by the River Ure over an almost stretch on its descent to Wensleydale, mid-Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales of England, near the village Aysga ...

Redmire Redmire is a village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. It is about west of Leyburn in Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales. From 1974 to 2023 it was part of the district of Richmondshire, it is now administered by the unitary North Y ...

(North Yorkshire) and

Bradford Bradford is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in West Yorkshire, England. It became a municipal borough in 1847, received a city charter in 1897 and, since the Local Government Act 1972, 1974 reform, the city status in the United Kingdo ...

(West Yorkshire). Some scenes were filmed at Plankey Mill Farm, near Langley and

Bardon Mill Bardon Mill is a small village in Northumberland, within the vicinity of the ancient Hadrian's Wall. It is located around from Hexham, from Carlisle, and from Newcastle upon Tyne. Nearby landmarks include Allen Banks & Staward Gorge, Syca ...

(Northumberland). In addition, some filming took place in

Cheddar Gorge Cheddar Gorge is a limestone gorge in the Mendip Hills, near the village of Cheddar, Somerset, England. The gorge is the site of the Cheddar show caves, where Britain's oldest complete human skeleton, Cheddar Man, estimated to be 9,000 years ...

in Somerset in

South West England South West England, or the South West of England, is one of the nine official regions of England, regions of England in the United Kingdom. Additionally, it is one of four regions that altogether make up Southern England. South West England con ...

Music

In May 2025,

Young Fathers Young Fathers are a Scottish Progressive rap, progressive hip hop group formed in Edinburgh in 2008. Their second EP, ''Tape Two'' (2013), won the Scottish Album of the Year Award. In 2014, they won the Barclaycard Mercury Prize, Mercury Prize ...

was confirmed in composing the film's soundtrack, making their film debut, who succeeds previous composer John Murphy.

Release

''28 Years Later'' is scheduled to be released in the United Kingdom, United States and Canada by

on 20 June 2025. The first trailer was released on 10 December 2024. It features the 1903 poem "

Boots A boot is a type of footwear. Most boots mainly cover the foot and the ankle, while some also cover some part of the lower calf. Some boots extend up the leg, sometimes as far as the knee or even the hip. Most boots have a heel that is clearl ...

" by

Rudyard Kipling Joseph Rudyard Kipling ( ; 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936)''The Times'', (London) 18 January 1936, p. 12. was an English journalist, novelist, poet, and short-story writer. He was born in British Raj, British India, which inspired much ...

, recited by American actor

Taylor Holmes Taylor Holmes (May 16, 1878 – January 29, 1959) was an American actor who appeared in over 100 Broadway theatre, Broadway plays in his five-decade career. However, he is probably best remembered for his screen performances, which he began on ...

in 1915. The trailer became #1 trending on

YouTube YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...

, and in 48 hours had over 10 million views. Stuart Heritage, the film critic for ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

'', 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 led to Sony's decision to re-release the original ''28 Days Later'' film on digital platforms on 18 December 2024, two years after it had been made unavailable by its former distributor

Disney The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment industry, entertainment conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank), Walt Di ...

Reception

Box office

In the United States and Canada, ''28 Years Later'' is scheduled to be released alongside ''

Elio Elio is an Italian male given name. Origin A name of dual origin, Elio is primarily a revival of (Helios), the Greek god of the Sun. derives, through the Latin , from the Ancient Greek (), which is taken from the noun of the same and mean ...

'', and is projected to gross around $30 million in its opening weekend.

Accolades

Sequel

In April 2024,

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''.US Copyright Office
Document No. V15022D530 / 2024-02-21 On 18 August 2024, during a talk at the

Edinburgh International Film Festival The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF), established in 1947, is the world's oldest continually running film festival. EIFF presents both UK and international films (all titles are World, international, European or UK Premieres), in al ...

, 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".

Notes

References

External links

* * {{Portal bar, 2020s, Film, United Kingdom, United States, Speculative fiction, Horror, Viruses 2020s coming-of-age films 2020s dystopian films 2020s English-language films 2025 science fiction horror films 2020s American films 2020s British films 2025 horror films 2025 films 28 Days Later (film series) American dystopian films American post-apocalyptic films American science fiction horror films American zombie films British dystopian films British post-apocalyptic films British science fiction horror films British zombie films Columbia Pictures films DNA Films films Eco-terrorism in fiction Films about viral outbreaks Films directed by Danny Boyle Films produced by Alex Garland Films produced by Andrew Macdonald Films produced by Danny Boyle Films with screenplays by Alex Garland Films scored by Hildur Guðnadóttir Films set in 2030 Films shot in Northumberland English-language science fiction horror films