Modern horror classic ‘28 Days Later‘ is making a comeback, with director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland reuniting for a sequel titled ’28 Years Later.’ This new zombie thriller is expected to generate significant buzz among studios and streamers when it goes up for sale this week, according to multiple sources. The package will be handled by WME, which represents both Boyle and Garland.
’28 Years Later’ won’t be just another standalone sequel; it aims to kick off a new trilogy. Danny Boyle is set to direct the first installment, with Alex Garland penning all three films. Each movie is expected to have a budget in the range of $75 million.
Original producer Andrew Macdonald and Peter Rice, former head of Fox Searchlight Pictures, the division that originally supported the British-made movie and its sequel, will also produce the trilogy alongside Boyle and Garland.
The duo has openly discussed the possibility of sequels over the years, with ’28 Months Later’ being one of the titles considered. However, ’28 Years Later’ emerged as the frontrunner in recent years.
The original ’28 Days Later’ starred Cillian Murphy as a man who wakes up from a coma to discover a post-apocalyptic England overrun by a virus that turns people into violent killers. The film was a surprise hit, revitalizing the zombie horror genre and reshaping the portrayal of zombies as relentless and fast-moving adversaries. It also explored themes of pandemics and society’s fragility, resonating with audiences in the post-9/11 world.
Boyle’s career soared after the film, and Murphy went on to collaborate with Christopher Nolan in ‘Batman Begins.’ The producers are hoping to replicate the success of George Miller’s ‘Mad Max: Fury Road,’ which marked his return to the franchise after a two-decade hiatus and achieved critical and box-office acclaim.
’28 Years Later’ promises to reignite the zombie horror genre and is sure to be eagerly anticipated by fans of the original film.
