Alex Garland, the writer and director behind the long-awaited zombie sequel 28 Years Later, recently revealed how the project finally took shape. In an interview with The Guardian, Garland disclosed that he now has plans for a whole new trilogy, sparked by a sudden burst of inspiration.
The original film, 28 Days Later, was released in 2002 and directed by Danny Boyle, with Garland penning the script. Starring Cillian Murphy, the film received critical acclaim for its fresh take on the zombie genre, portraying a post-apocalyptic London overrun by a deadly virus. A sequel, 28 Weeks Later, followed in 2007.
While details of the upcoming sequel, 28 Years Later, are still under wraps, Garland has teased a “really cool” and “much bigger” idea for the film. Despite its departure from the small and punk aesthetic of its predecessor, both Garland and Boyle have discussed the project periodically over the years, with the desire to collaborate on it remaining strong.
28 Years Later (Alex Garland)
One major question looming over the sequel is whether Cillian Murphy will reprise his role. Murphy, now an Academy Award winner, has expressed his willingness to return if Garland and Boyle are on board.
Before diving into 28 Years Later, Garland will first explore a U.S. dystopia in his upcoming film Civil War. The movie follows a team of military-embedded journalists racing against time to reach Washington, D.C., before rebel factions descend upon the White House. Starring Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Nick Offerman, Civil War has garnered critical acclaim following its premiere at SXSW.
