In a post shared by Film Updates onX(formerly Twitter),Jodie Comercan be seen running from zombies in set pictures from the upcoming28 Days Latersequel,28 Years Later. Perhaps even more interesting is the sight ofEvin Ryding, star ofYoung Royals, who has yet to be officially cast in the film. The pictures look to all but confirm his involvement, which adds another rising star to aneye-catching cast listthat contains some of modern acting’s best. Also confirmed to appear in the film are the likes of former child star turned Hollywood leading man,Aaron Taylor-Johnson, British talentJack O’Connell, and Voldemort himself,Ralph Fiennes.
The original zombie flick, directed byDanny Boyleand written byAlex Garland, changed the landscape of the flesh-hungry horror sub-genre forever. Gone were the old-fashioned bumbling zombies of theGeorge A. Romeroera and in were thefast-paced, breathless new breed fronted by28 Days Later. The zombies were so fear-inducing that they would go on to inspire the likes ofThe Walking Dead, bringing one of horror’s best monsters and updating them for a quick-moving modern audience.
‘28 Years Later’ Will See Cillian Murphy Reprise One of His Best-Ever Roles
It isn’t just new names assigned to the impressive cast list for28 Years Later, as it has also been announced thatCillian Murphywill be reprising his role as Jim from the original outing. In a turn that put plenty of attention on the young star,Murphy can thank28 Days Laterfor helping kickstart his careerwhich has seen a recent couple of years take him to the very top of the industry. With his Academy Award for Best Actor tucked into his back pocket thanks to a starring role inChristopher Nolan’sOppenheimer, Murphy will be joining back up with Boyle and Garland to once again battle bloodthirsty zombies and help make thought-provoking socio-political statements.
28 Years Lateriscurrently filming in Newcastle, England, with the release date scheduled for August 21, 2025. This adds the sequel to an already intriguing summer of 2025, with a live-action remake ofHow to Train Your Dragonamong others already announced. With it now some 22 years since the release of the original, the die-hard fanbase of28 Days Laterare sure to be counting down the days to the next installment’s release.
A Young ‘Star Wars’ Star is Also in the Cast
Not just looking for the top talent of today, the casting team behind28 Years Laterisjust as interested in giving a platform to the talent of tomorrow. This has manifested in the casting ofErin Kellyman, a 25-year-old British actress with enormous potential. Thus far, Kellyman is known for portraying the likes of Karlie Morgenthau inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldierand Inifred inThe Green Knight, but it is her recent role inSolo: A Star Wars Storythat has earned her the most praise. Information regarding Kellyman’s character, and any other character besides Murphy’s Jim, is not yet known. With the release date just under one year away, it is unlikely we will receive concrete updates yet.
‘28 Days Later’s First Sequel Was a Quiet Success
For some, it may come as news to learn that28 Years Lateris not the first sequel to the iconic genre-defining zombie flick. Set following the events of the first outing,28 Weeks Laterdepicts NATO’s attempts to craft a safe zone in a desperate London, and the battle between head and heart that influences such a delicate procedure. On a budget of just $15 million,the movie recouped an impressive $65 million, marking it a fair success for 20th Century Fox.
Perhaps the reason why many are not aware of the film is due to the lack of involvement of many of the original’s cast and crew. Boyle was replaced in the director’s chair byJuan Carlos Fresnadillo, with the writing team also shuffled. Although missing the dynamic influence of Murphy, the cast was still fairly eye-catching, including the likes ofIdris Elba,Rose Byrne, andJeremy Renner. Perhaps the pending release of28 Years Laterwill see a small renaissance for this first sequel.
Set pictures from28 Years Latershow Jodie Comer running from zombies and seem to confirm the involvement of Evin Ryding. You can watch the original28 Days Lateron Prime Video right now, and check out the set images on X.
28 Days Later
Four weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the UK, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary.
Watch on Prime
