After a hiatus of 23 years, the acclaimed creative trio of producer and director Danny Boyle, writer Alex Garland, and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle have reunited to deliver "28 Years Later," a highly anticipated third chapter in their post-apocalyptic franchise, following the foundational "28 Days Later" and Juan Carlos Fresnadillo’s 2007 sequel "28 Weeks Later." Released by Sony Pictures Releasing, the new film is already generating significant buzz, with critical aggregate scores noted as very high for the genre, often described as tonally messy but ultimately compelling. The narrative centers on a small family, portrayed by Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Alfie Williams, who venture from their isolated island sanctuary to the zombie-infested mainland in search of supplies and to hunt the undead, inevitably leading to perilous encounters. They also cross paths with various zombie survivalists, including characters played by Ralph Fiennes and Jack O’Connell, who pose as much of a threat as the infected themselves.

Boyle and Garland elaborated on their decision to revisit the series after so many years, noting that the original film had a lasting presence in their imaginations and the cinematic landscape. Garland revealed that an initial script attempt following COVID-19 felt too generic, having fallen into the trope of weaponizing the virus. This misstep, however, allowed them to think more expansively, leading to a new story with a significantly larger scope. While the film wasn't directly about COVID-19, the global pandemic inherently informed its creation, fitting their approach of reacting to the world around them rather than solely to other films.

Regarding the film’s explicit content, Danny Boyle acknowledged some back-and-forth discussions with the studio but praised Tom Rothman at Sony for supporting their extreme vision. Boyle emphasized that horror, by its nature, allows for maximum impact and brutality, which they strategically contrasted with the innocence represented by child characters and the striking beauty of the natural landscapes. This principle, aiming to stretch the story's boundaries by juxtaposing these forces, was fully supported by the studio. A notable aspect of the film's production was the use of iPhones for shooting, a technique that presented unique challenges. Boyle specifically highlighted a difficult scene where an "Alpha" zombie drops into a train, revealing full nudity and the aftermath of an attack in a single shot, which he noted was designed to maximize the camera's capabilities.

The film is conceived as the first installment of a new trilogy, with a core concept of "handover" scenes at the end of each film setting up the next. The ending of "28 Years Later" notably reintroduces Jack O’Connell's character, Jimmy Crystal, as an adult cult leader. Initially seen as a child in flashbacks, his character's re-emergence is designed to set up his controversial role as the main villain in the second film. Garland explained that the inspiration for Jimmy Crystal, and indeed the broader trilogy, stems from a reflection on how contemporary society often looks back at the past in a regressive manner, characterized by amnesia, cherry-picking, and misremembering. This "smashed together" representation of forgotten, selected, and misremembered elements forms a subtle commentary within the film's world-building and character portrayals. Notably, reports from the London world premiere indicated a collective unease among the audience due to perceived comparisons between Jimmy Crystal and the notorious English media personality and sex offender Jimmy Savile. O'Connell himself described his character as a "gas c—" and "thrilling to portray," existing in a significantly darker pocket than previous roles.

The trilogy also marks the return of Cillian Murphy, who serves as an executive producer on "28 Years Later" and makes a brief appearance in the second film, directed by Nia DaCosta. Boyle and Garland plan for Murphy to have an "enormous character" role in the third film, mirroring the expansion of Jack O'Connell's character from a brief appearance in the first film to a major role alongside Ralph Fiennes in the second. As for the third film, Garland confirmed that while a story, plan, and structure are in place, the script is not yet written, allowing for organic development and discoveries during the filmmaking process, similar to television production.

Danny Boyle also reflected on the evolution of the horror genre within the studio system since "28 Days Later." He observed a significant shift in audience demographics, particularly the increased presence and importance of women in the horror audience, a demographic once dismissed by industry authorities. Boyle sees this as a positive development contributing to horror's sustained popularity and its crucial role in maintaining communal cinema experiences, asserting that horror movies, when well-executed, offer an extraordinary and joyful release best experienced collectively in a dark room. "28 Years Later" premiered with previews and is tracking for a domestic opening weekend in the $25-30 million range, indicating a strong start for the latest installment in the enduring franchise.