28 Years Later (Jodie Comer / Aaron Taylor-Johnson / Ralph Fiennes)

Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s “28 Years Later” starts production in May. Cillian Murphy is rumored to be the lead. In January, as part of a heated bidding war, Sony landed the film and gave it a $60 million budget. A sequel is also set to be shot, possibly next year.

We already suspected that Cillian Murphy would return to reprise his ‘28 Days Later’ role and now Daniel Richtman is reporting that Jodie Comer is in talks to star in the film. Additional casting should be announced very soon as this one is supposed begin shooting next month.

Comer, best known for the TV hit “Killing Eve,” is a wonderful actress. She’s recently started to take on some movie roles and will next be seen in Jeff Nichols’ “The Bikeriders.” She was also stole the show in Ridley Scott’s “The Last Duel.”

“28 Years Later” is said to have a budget of $60 million. No details are known about the plot. The plan is for ‘Years’ to kick off a trilogy of films, all scripted by Garland — Boyle is only set to direct the first one.

UltimateMarvel wrote:Cool! I might have to re-watch 28 Days Later because I remember nothing.

WyldeMan wrote:Both were wild movies, Cillian in 28 Days and Renner in 28 Months.

Comer is sexy AF. I will see anything she does.

UltimateMarvel wrote:

WyldeMan wrote:Both were wild movies, Cillian in 28 Days and Renner in 28 Months.

Comer is sexy AF. I will see anything she does.

Damn! 28 Days came out in 2002 which makes it 22 years old. Because of my 20 year rule, might have to stick with 28 Weeks instead.

‘Candyman’ Director Nia DaCosta In Talks To Helm Part Two Of New ’28 Years Later’ Trilogy
From Sony Pictures

EXCLUSIVE: While Danny Boyle is set to return to direct 28 Years Later, the first film in a new trilogy based on the iconic horror films he helped launch, Sony Pictures is already lining up the helmer for the second installment. While a deal hasn’t closed, sources tell Deadline that Nia DaCosta is in talks to direct, with Boyle, original writer Alex Garland, Andrew Macdonald and Peter Rice producing along with Bernie Bellew. 28 Days Later star Cillian Murphy will exec produce.

While exact dates are unknown, sources say the plan is for Boyle to direct the first film later this year, with the second film shooting immediately after, which is why Sony is moving fast to lock in that second director. This way, the directors can get on the same page about where they see the story going while also bringing their own unique visions for each film. Garland will pen each installment.

While plot details on this new trilogy are vague, the original 28 Days Later centered on Murphy’s bicycle courier, who woke up from a coma to discover the world had been overrun with zombies following the outbreak of a virus. Pic grossed over $82 million worldwide and led to a 2007 sequel 28 Weeks Later, on which Boyle and Garland served solely as EPs.

As for DaCosta, the rising star in the director ranks is the fit the franchise is seeking given how impactful her directing style has been, especially with her horror thrillers like Candyman.

Up next, DaCosta wrote, directed and produced the MGM Orion Pictures and Plan B film Hedda, a visceral reimagination of the famed Henrik Ibsen stage play Hedda Gabler, starring Tessa Thompson in the title role. Previously, she directed and co-wrote The Marvels starring Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris and Iman Vellani, and Candyman, a contemporary spiritual sequel to the 1992 cult horror classic, for Universal and Monkeypaw Productions. The film received rave reviews and opened at No. 1 at the box office, making DaCosta the first Black female director to open at the top of U.S. charts.

DaCosta made her feature debut with the Little Woods, which she wrote and directed.

EXCLUSIVE: The new 28 Years Later trilogy from director Danny Boyle and Sony Pictures is gaining momentum, and some serious star power. Sources tell Deadline that Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes have boarded the first pic, a sequel to the original 28 Days Later.

Boyle is directing the first movie from a script by Alex Garland. Sony will release the film in theaters globally.

While plot details are vague, the original 28 Days Later in 2002 centered on a bicycle courier (played by Cillian Murphy) who wakes from a coma to discover the world had been overrun with zombies following the outbreak of a virus. The pic grossed more than $82 million worldwide and led to a 2007 sequel 28 Weeks Later, on which Boyle and Garland served solely as EPs.

Deadline recently broke the news that the studio has already tapped Candyman director Nia DaCosta to helm the second part of the trilogy, and that the plan is to shoot both films back to back. As for the three newest cast members, the studio is clearly showing it means business, adding star power instead of going the lesser-known-actor route like in previous installments.

Boyle and Garland are also producing 28 Years Later, as is original producer Andrew Macdonald and Peter Rice. Bernie Bellew is also producing. Murphy is also returning as an executive producer.

Following her star-making and Emmy-winning role in Killing Eve, Comer has stayed busy on the feature film side, starring in such films as Free Guy opposite Ryan Reynolds and in Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel. Next up, she can be seen in Focus Features’ The Bikeriders opposite Tom Hardy and Austin Butler.

For Taylor-Johnson, the job continues his strong partnership with Sony following a scene-stealing role in Bullet Train as well as the upcoming Marvel pic Kraven the Hunter. Next up, he’s in the Universal tentpole The Fall Guy that bows next week and also stars Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. He also has Focus’ gothic horror pic Nosferatu bowing this Christmas.

The Oscar-nominated Fiennes is currently finishing a 4-city International run of the sold out play, Macbeth in Washington, DC. The play was performed in Liverpool, London, and Edinburgh to sold out audiences in every city and to rave reviews He finishes his run in DC on May 5th. This fall he stars in two films, Conclave directed Edward Berger which will be released by Focus features and The Return directed by Uberto Pasolini opposite Juliette Binoche which will be released by Bleecker street

Comer is repped by Independent Talent Group, WME and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole. Fiennes is repped by 42 and CAA. Johnson is repped by WME, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and David Weber.

Source: Deadline

After a much-heated bidding war, Sony prevailed and acquired the rights to Danny Boyle’s “28 Years Later,” which will be written by Alex Garland. It was a hot package, and a few studios were in the running for the rights, including Warner Bros.

Cillian Murphy, who starred in the original movie, “28 Days Later,” and who is an executive producer, will NOT be returning in the first film. However, Jeff Sneider is saying that he will be there, in a notable cameo, for the second film, directed by Nia DaCosta, and will play a major role in the third one.

For the time being, Boyle and Garland have not confirmed or denied his presence. In an interview with Variety, which was recorded in December 2023, Murphy stated that he was “available” and interested in taking part in Boyle and Garland’s sequels. This struck many as an unofficial confirmation.

This past March, Murphy won the Oscar for Best Actor, so it’s quite the catch for Boyle/Garland to have him take part in their films. If you remember, Murphy played the lead role of Jim in 2003’s “28 Days Later.” He survived, obviously, but didn’t appear in the follow-up “28 Weeks Later.”

Save for Steven Knight’s “Peaky Blinders” movie, which is supposed to be shot in September, Murphy is also attached to star in “Blood Runs Coal,” which might go into production later this year.

“28 Years Later” is said to have a budget of $60 million. It’s set to star Ralph Fiennes, Jodie Comer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. No details have been given about plot, characters and production dates. The plan is for ‘28 Years’ to kick off a trilogy of films, all scripted by Garland. The first one starts shooting next month in London.

The last film Boyle directed was 2019’s “Yesterday,” a sweet but very slight Beatles-themed romcom that felt like an anomaly within Boyle’s usually grim filmography. Boyle’s other notable works include “Trainspotting,” “127 Hours,” and “Slumdog Millionaire.”