28 Years Later: Release date and latest news

Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jack O'Connell and Ralph Fiennes lead the cast of the new film, which is the first in a new trilogy, following up on the 28 Days Later franchise.

“Because 23 years had passed, it felt like we could be take real risks with it,” Boyle told The Hollywood Reporter on the red carpet at the 28 Days Later World Premiere. “And our ambition was to try and make as an original a film as the first one when it came out… The upgrades on the infected are a privilege to film and to witness.” He smiled, “I think people will enjoy the upgrades.”

Comer said she was surprised by how moved she was by the zombie movie. “It’s horror, but I was struck by how moved I was," she said.

"There was so much levity. The script felt so rich and also really at the centre of it is this family dynamic, this relationship between mother and son, which is not your usual relationship.”

The original 28 Days Later film saw Murphy play an average bicycle courier called Jim who emerged from a hospital to find London deserted and besieged by a zombie rage virus.

Despite initial rumours that he would be back for this year's film, it has now been confirmed that the character will not be seen – at least, not yet.

Read on for everything we know about 28 Years Later so far.

28 Years Later release date

After years of waiting on news for the 28 Days Later franchise, we now finally have a release date for 28 Years Later – 20th June 2025.

Two more films are also expected in this new trilogy, with one having been filmed back-to-back with 28 Years Later. That film, directed by Nia DaCosta, is called 28 Years Later Part II: The Bone Temple, and is scheduled to be released on 16th January 2026.

Who stars in 28 Years Later?

The currently announced stars of the film are as follows:

• Jodie Comer as Isla
• Aaron Taylor-Johnson plays Jamie
• Ralph Fiennes as Dr. Ian Kelson
• Alfie Williams as TBC
• Erin Kellyman plays Jimmy Ink
• Edvin Ryding plays E Sundqvist
• Chi Lewis-Parry as TBC
• Jack O'Connell as TBC
• Angus Neill plays Emaciated Infected

Meanwhile, behind the camera, Alex Garland will once again write the script while Danny Boyle will return to the director’s chair.

Cillian Murphy, who played Jim in 28 Days Later but was absent from 28 Weeks Later, was rumoured to be starring in the film, as he is officially signed on as an executive producer.

Upon the release of the film's trailer, many fans speculated that Murphy's character Jim has become infected since he survived the end of 28 Days Later, and appears in a shot (above). This was later confirmed not to be the case.

In fact, it has now been confirmed that Murphy won't be appearing in 28 Years Later at all, with producer Andrew Macdonald telling Empire: "[On] this, we wanted him to be involved and he wanted to be involved. He is not in the first film, but I’m hoping there will be some Jim somewhere along the line.

"He’s involved at the moment as an executive producer, and I would hope we can work with him in some way in the future in the trilogy."

Murphy previously said he would "love" to do a sequel, telling The Independent of a potential follow-up to 28 Days Later, while on promotional duties for Oppenheimer: "That's great to hear."

He continued: "I didn't know that – I would be there in a flash. I made two movies with both of those guys [Boyle and Garland], and I would love to work with them again. Of course, I'm there."

What will 28 Years Later be about?

The official synopsis for 28 Years Later says: "It's been almost three decades since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, and now, still in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst the infected.

"One such group of survivors lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily-defended causeway. When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well."

Fiennes previously spoke with IndieWire about the film, telling the publication of the plot: "Britain is 28 years into this terrible plague of infected people who are violent, rabid humans with a few pockets of uninfected communities.

"And it centres on a young boy who wants to find a doctor to help his dying mother. He leads his mother through this beautiful northern English terrain.

"But of course, around them hiding in forests and hills and woods are the infected. But he finds a doctor who is a man we might think is going to be weird and odd, but actually is a force for good."

Is there a trailer for 28 Years Later?

There is! You can watch the eerie trailer right here now.

Will there be a 28 Years Later trilogy?

There will – or at least, that is certainly the plan.

It was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter in January 2024 that Boyle and Garland were planning to launch a new trilogy in the 28 universe, with Boyle directing the first film, and Garland scripting all three.

It was later confirmed that Nia DaCosta would direct the second film, which was shot back-to-back with the first.

The third film is yet to enter production, but Boyle has confirmed he is planning to return as director, and that it will film after the first instalment has been released.

THR reported that each film would have a budget of up to $75 million range, marking the highest of the franchise to date. The first two 28 films were made for $8 and $15 million, respectively.

28 Years Later is coming to cinemas on 20th June 2025.

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