Shortly after saying that he's "not cut out" for franchise filmmaking, former BOND 25 helmer and YESTERDAY director Danny Boyle has told The Independent that a sequel to his ground-breaking 28 DAYS LATER zombie horror series is in development.
While speaking with the entertainment outlet, Boyle confirmed that "Alex Garland and I have a wonderful idea for the third part," he said. "It's properly good."
"The original film led to a bit of a resurgence in the zombie drama and it doesn't reference any of that. It doesn't feel stale at all. He's concentrating on directing his own work at the moment, so it's stood in abeyance really, but it's a you-never-know," Boyle added.
28 WEEKS LATER was unleashed in 2002 and starred Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris and Christopher Eccelston. The events of Boyle's brilliant zombie film took place four weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spread throughout the UK, leaving but a few survivors left alive and searching for sanctuary. Though the film only sank its teeth into $82.7 million at the worldwide box office, 28 DAYS LATER quickly became an instant classic among fans of the zombie and post-apocalyptic sub-genres. At the time of its release, Boyle's film gave zombie filmmaking a much-needed kick to the gut by introducing undead who were capable of running at top speed. At first this seemed like a mild tweak to the shambling zombie horror films of old, but when that sucker hit theaters, moviegoers became petrified of the undead all over again. I can still recall having zombie-related nightmares shortly after seeing 28 WEEKS LATER in theaters. Those bitey fuckers would chase me all throughout my own head as I slept, snarling and foaming at the mouth for my sweet, tasty flesh.
As you're probably aware, a sequel to 28 DAYS LATER was unleashed in 2007 by director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo. Titled 28 WEEKS LATER, the worthy follow-up took place six months after the rage virus was inflicted on the population of Great Britain. In the film, the US Army helps to secure a small area of London for the survivors to repopulate and start again. But not everything goes according to plan.
For what it's worth, I thought 28 WEEKS LATER was damn good, and I'd totally be game to see Boyle pick up the threads left by Fresnadillo's contribution to the series.
How about you? Is it time for Boyle to return to the zombie thriller that helped make him a household name, or should he simply allow the dead to rest? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.