We’ve written about the potential for 28 MONTHS LATER so often in the last 5-6 years that I don’t even have time to link to all the articles. The basic gist always seems to be, “We’ve got some ideas, it may or may not happen, we’ll see.” And while today’s update doesn’t give us too much more than that, it would seem as though the sequel is as close to happening as it has ever been.
Alex Garland, the screenwriter of the first film, has been doing plenty of promotion for his directorial debut, EX MACHINA, these last few months, and in the process he’s had occasion to talk about the long-awaited sequel: Back in January, he mentioned that 28 MONTHS LATER was finally being talked about seriously, with producers Danny Boyle and Andrew MacDonald all back on board. Now things have advanced just a little.
In a recent interview with IndieWire, Garland says the project is being prepped right now, although he won’t be involved directly.
About two years ago, Danny started collaborating on the potential to make ‘Trainspotting 2,’ another sequel… In that conversation, an idea for ’28 Months’ arrived. I had a funny idea. I had a sort of weird idea that popped into my head. Partly because of a trip I’d taken. I had this thought, and I suggested it to Andrew and Danny, but I also said I don’t want to work on it. I don’t really want to play a role, and Andrew said, ‘Leave it to me.’ So he’s gone off and is working on it.”
Garland also notes it’s better to have come up with an original idea for the film organically as opposed to trying to force one.
Yeah. It’s pretty simple,” he said of the idea. “Don’t you think those are, in a way, better? Because there is no momentum now, and you’ve had an organic, real spark about where I can take this. And it just popped into your head, kind of thing. Rather than, ‘Okay, I’m going to make a sequel.’”
Now we wait and see who takes the franchise’s reins. Could Boyle slip back into the director’s seat once more?