28 Years Later: Trailer shows scary details

The long-awaited trailer for “28 Years Later” promises a dark return to the zombie world once created by Danny Boyle. With numerous stars and a proven creative team, the film is intended to usher in a new trilogy – but for fans of Cillian Murphy it has a somewhat unexpected twist in store.

Zombies are returning to the screen

Fans of 28 Days Later and its sequel 28 Weeks Later can breathe a sigh of relief: The first trailer for 28 Years Later is here and promises an exciting sequel to the popular zombie franchise. The film, set to hit theaters on June 20, 2025, marks director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland’s return to their post-apocalyptic roots.

As the title suggests, the action takes place 28 years after the outbreak of the Rage virus. The official description says: “It has been almost three decades since the Rage virus escaped from a bioweapons laboratory. Even now, in the ruthless quarantine, some have found a way to survive among the infected. Such a 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 to venture into the dark heart of the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders and horrors that are not “Not only the infected but also other survivors have mutated.” How Variety reports, the trailer features a top-class cast. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes lead the list of newcomers.

However, fans of the original will miss one familiar character: Cillian Murphy, star of the first film, is not listed in the cast list (although he does appear as a producer). Instead, the trailer shows a disturbing shot of a zombie that looks relatively similar to Murphy. This suggests that his character has fallen victim to the virus in the meantime and is now “living on” as an undead.

Innovative film technology

The return to the origins of the series is also reflected in the production technology. Cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle shot the film entirely on an iPhone 15 Pro Max to maintain the raw, digital look of the original. “28 Years Later” is planned as the start of a new trilogy. The second part with the working title “28 Years Later II: The Bone Temple” has already been filmed and will be directed by Nia DaCosta.

Evolution of the virus and its victims

The return of those infected with Rage promises not only familiar horrors, but also a further development of the virus and its effects on the survivors. The trailer suggests that both the infected and the people have changed over the past 28 years.