28 Years Later Director Reveals Why Now Was the Perfect Time for the Sequel

by

In contrast to the abundance of sequels and franchise films today, the director of “28 Years Later” explains why this is the ideal moment to revisit the widely praised horror series. Danny Boyle, an Oscar-winning director and the original “28 Days Later” filmmaker, recently spoke with ComicBook ahead of the sequel’s June 20th release. Boyle attributes the current global and societal climate as what makes “28 Years Later” feel as pertinent and timely as ever, if not more so than when it was initially released in 2002.

Inquired about any recent happenings influencing them to revisit the initial movie, Boyle and writer/producer Alex Garland of 28 Years Later shared an intriguing perspective on how these events shaped their narrative in the sequel.

28 Years Later‘s Danny Boyle Reveals How Horror Movies Become Timely to Audiences Without Intention

Time seems peculiar because film production often takes such a prolonged period that aspects shift and blur like scenes on a screen. One might concentrate on specific elements happening globally or personal experiences of individuals at a particular moment, but by the end of six months, those situations have evolved.

Boyle pondered, “People interpret it in various ways; they examine Gaza, the treatment of immigrants and migrants. You can analyze Covid-19, you can scrutinize Brexit on a local political level related to current British political affairs, the isolation of the island – though it’s an enforced isolation in our story, while it’s a voluntary isolation within the political sphere.

In the movie “28 Years Later“, multiple storylines and ideas resonate deeply, but director Boyle attributes the power of the horror genre for allowing viewers to interpret numerous meanings from it.

Horror films possess an intriguing quality that allows for multiple interpretations and offers glimpses into other realms, only to mysteriously retreat. This enchanting characteristic is central to filmmaking in this genre.” Boyle discussed the multifaceted aspect of storytelling within horror movies. “[We didn’t intentionally create a profoundly political film] Instead, our aim was to craft an engaging narrative, with some inspiration drawn from the original work, but capable of standing independently as a captivating cinematic experience.

Almost 30 years have passed since a virus called rage broke free from its biological weapons lab. Now, under strict quarantine, some people have managed to survive among the infected. One such group lives on an isolated island linked to the mainland by a heavily guarded bridge. When one of them ventures into the mainland, they uncover hidden truths, mysteries, and terrors that have not only changed the infected but also other survivors.

28 Years Later, featuring Aaron Taylor Johnson, Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman and Jack O’Connell, is one of three sequels scheduled in the series. Expected to be released next year, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple will bring back Cillian Murphy as Jim, who originally starred in the film. Additionally, a third movie in the 28 Years Later saga, serving as the conclusion to the trilogy, is currently in development.

28 Years Later will be released exclusively in theaters June 20th.

Read More

2025-06-16 00:39