Ralph Fiennes has offered some intriguing insights into the plot of the upcoming 28 Days Later sequel, even though the storyline was previously “kept under wraps.”
Seven months after the cast was revealed, fresh details have emerged, courtesy of the Harry Potter actor, who will star alongside Jodie Comer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
While original lead Cillian Murphy had expressed that he’d “say yes” to returning, he will not be part of the main cast, though his appearance has been hinted at as “surprising.”
It’s also now confirmed that 28 Years Later will be the first film in a planned trilogy, with Fiennes sharing that “it’s three films, of which two have been shot.”
This first film, releasing 24 years after the original, will see filmmaker Danny Boyle return to helm the project.
Meanwhile, the second film in the series, subtitled The Bone Temple, has been directed by Nia DaCosta, known for The Marvels and 2021’s Candyman.
It is believed that Murphy, currently filming the Peaky Blinders movie, will take on a larger role in the second film of this new trilogy.
Fiennes recently revealed more about the setting and storyline, though details had been closely guarded until now.
He explained: “Britain is 28 years into this terrible plague of infected people—violent, rabid humans—with a few remaining pockets of uninfected communities. It centers on a young boy who wants to find a doctor to help his dying mother.
He leads her through this beautiful northern English space. But, lurking in the forests and hills around them are the infected.
Eventually, he encounters a doctor—a man who might initially appear strange or suspicious but turns out to be a force for good.”
The new film follows 2007’s sequel 28 Weeks Later. Unlike the original film, which was produced on a modest £8 million budget, the new sequels have a reported budget of £75 million each.
Fiennes, meanwhile, is a strong contender for Best Actor at next year’s Oscars for his role in Conclave, a drama directed by All Quiet on the Western Front’s Edward Berger, about the selection of a new pope.
Conclave is scheduled for release on November 29, while 28 Years Later will premiere on June 20, 2025.
