A slew of huge stars have signed on for Danny Boyle’s sequel to his 2002 cult classic zombie apocalypse movie “28 Days Later,” sources told Deadline on Wednesday.
The upcoming sequels are aptly named “28 Years Later” and the first installment of the trilogy will be directed by Danny Boyle, based on a script from Alex Garland, according to Deadline. Sources claim that Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer and absolute icon Ralph Fiennes are already onboard for the first movie.
Very little is known about the sequels but star of the original film, Cillian Murphy, said in February that he is “available” to take part, Variety reported. He’ll be coming back as an executive producer, Deadline noted, but it’s unclear whether his character will return on-screen.
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The first film follows Murphy’s character as he awakens from a coma just 28 days after the world is inhaled by a rage-creating virus that causes total societal breakdown. Almost the exact opening plotline was copied for the pilot of hit zombie show “The Walking Dead” and has inspired countless other media projects within the genre.
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 31: Director, Danny Boyle attends the 20th anniversary screening of “28 Days Later” at BFI Southbank on October 31, 2022 in London, England. The screening is part ‘In Dreams are Monsters’ A season of Horror Films. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 31: Director, Danny Boyle attends the 20th anniversary screening of “28 Days Later” at BFI Southbank on October 31, 2022 in London, England. The screening is part ‘In Dreams are Monsters’ A season of Horror Films. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 03: Jodie Comer attends The 26th British Independent Film Awards at Old Billingsgate on December 03, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 06: Ralph Fiennes attends the World Premiere of “The King’s Man” at Cineworld Leicester Square on December 06, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN – AUGUST 22: Aaron Taylor-Johnson attends the ‘Bullet Train’ promotion event at Koyasan Tokyo Betsu-In Temple on August 22, 2022 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Christopher Jue/Getty Images)
Murphy was basically unknown when “28 Days Later” came out, making it a far more indie-feeling film. Deadline noted that bringing on Fiennes and the other cast members shows that Boyle and Garland really mean business with these next projects, the first of which will shoot back-to-back. (RELATED: Cillian Murphy’s New Versace Campaign Reminds Us What The American ‘Melting Pot’ Should Be)
There’s no news on when we can expect “28 Years Later” to come to fruition. Let’s just hope its before the actual apocalypse, eh?