In 2002 audiences were mesmerized by the British scary movie 28 Days Later by director Danny Boyle. Made on a spending plan of $8 million, the film was a breakout international hit earning $85 million around the world, and redefined the zombie category for the 21st century. Five years later, a follow up was launched,28 Weeks Later, with Boyle producing and directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo. 28 Weeks Later ended on a significant cliffhanger, meaning a 3rd movie which lots of began calling 28 Months Later. It has actually now been sixteen years because the release of the previous movie, and still no word on a 3rd movie.


Update May 17, 2023: This post has actually been upgraded by Mona Bassil with extra information concerning the future of 28 Months Later.

Interested in a 3rd film illuminated with 28 Days Later star Cillian Murphy revealed interest in returning for a follow up. While Murphy acknowledges the time that has actually expired in between then and now, he would still like for 28 Months Later to take place anyhow. But the concern stays, will this film ever see the light of day? Will audiences need to wait up until 2030 so the movie can be entitled 28 Years Later? Here is whatever we understand about 28 Months Later and if it will ever take place.


A Refresher on the First Two Films

Cillian Murphy in 28 Days Later

28 Days Later opens with Jim (Cillian Murphy) getting up in a health center and gradually finding that society has actually broken down due to the introduction of the Rage Virus, which sends its hosts into a state of severe, unmanageable rage, turning them into violent beasts. Murphy stars as one of a little band of survivors, together with Naomie Harris as Selena, Brendan Gleeson as Frank, and Megan Burns as Hannah. Together, they need to avert the contaminated in hopes of discovering redemption.

The follow up 28 Weeks Later was launched in 2007 and gets after the occasions of the very first film, however without the addition of Murphy’s character. Starring Robert Carlyle, Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner, Catherine McCormack, Imogen Poots, and Idris Elba, the movie illustrates the efforts of NATO military forces to restore a safe zone in London, the effect of 2 young brother or sisters breaking procedure to discover their contaminated mom and the resulting reintroduction of the Rage Virus to the safe zone.

28 Days Later got large crucial recognition, renewing the scary subgenre, presenting the fast-running zombie, and including excellent efficiencies and authentic horror. With an audience rating of 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, it ended up being an instantaneous preferred with category fans and mainstream audiences alike. While not rather matching the instantaneous traditional status of its predecessor, 28 Weeks Later still got favorable evaluations from critics and audiences and held its own in a congested May release window where it took on Spider-Man 3, Shrek the Third, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End at package workplace. Fans have actually been waiting years for a 3rd movie.

Why No Sequel Has Happened Yet

28 Weeks Later movie sequel

The very first conversations around a follow up began in 2007 when the status would be identified by DVD sales of 28 Weeks Later. The very same year Danny Boyle was promoting Sunshine stated there were possible concepts for a 3rd film. Yet hope appeared rushed when author Alex Garland stated the rights were held up with individuals who were no longer talking, which would avoid any follow up from taking place. This was 2010, and it is uncertain who Garland was describing that were not speaking.

In 2015 both Garland and Boyle discussed how a 3rd movie was possible, and in 2019 both fulfilled to talk about a 3rd film. Much had actually altered for the 2 guys because 28 Weeks Later was launched. Danny Boyle had actually ended up being an Academy Award-winning filmmaker for his deal with 2008’s Slumdog Millionaire, while Alex Garland had actually ended up being a well-known filmmaker himself with films like Ex Machina and Annihilation. In addition to Murphy, 28 Weeks Later star Imogen Poots revealed interest in returning for a follow up.

How It Could Happen

Cillian Murphy Would Return for Another 28 Days Later Sequel

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The finest context for 28 Months Later may be another Danny Boyle film, T2: Trainspotting. The follow up to the popular 1996 movie Trainspotting opened in theaters 21 years after the very first film and reunited the initial cast. With it now being 21 years because the release of 28 Days Later, it still stays totally possible that a 3rd movie will occur with Boyle directing. Garland might likewise enter the director’s chair, bringing whatever cycle for him. In 2022, Dany Boyle stated a follow up was closer than ever.

The greatest challenge in getting the movie launched is Disney. 28 Days Later was launched through Fox Searchlight, while 28 Weeks Later was Fox Atomic. Now 20th Century Fox, entitled 20th Century Pictures, is a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company. While Disney is purchasing Fox’s R-rated homes like Alien and Predator, they are mostly streaming releases. Both Boyle and Garland are huge enough names that they might lobby for a theatrical release, however one needs to question if Disney wants to put that financial investment into a long-awaited scary follow up. It is a brand, however it would still be a gamble for the studio, which now appears more risk-averse and is decreasing the quantity of product they produce.