Why 28 Years Later Fell Flat

The Long-Awaited Sequel

28 Years Later is the sequel zombie fans have been clamoring for since 2007, but the long-awaited announcement contained one key detail that dampened all excitement. For both the zombie subgenre and horror movies as a whole, 2002's 28 Days Later was a revelation, putting director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland on Hollywood's radar. Lead actors Cillian Murphy and Naomie Harris also haven't fared too badly since escaping post-apocalyptic London. While not a disaster by any means, the absence of any recognizable names from the original movie, both onscreen and off, meant 2007's 28 Weeks Later failed to live up to its predecessor.

Cillian Murphy looking up with his hands up by his forehead in 28 Days Later

Since then, 28 Months Later - and eventually 28 Years Later after enough time passed - was one of the most demanded sequels in modern horror. For a long time, the hypothetical threequel was nothing more than a fantasy. Still regarded among Danny Boyle's best movies, the director and Garland would regularly express interest in a third installment, but bemoan how their conflicting, busy schedules never allowed it. 17 years and several Oscars later, 28 Years Later is reportedly in the works, and while that should bring excitement, it doesn't.

Cillian Murphy running in 28 Days Later

Horror franchises are infamous for outstaying their welcome. Even by Hollywood's sequel-hungry standards, horror IPs regularly release one or ten movies too many, attempting to spin out a simple initial concept into something it was never suited to be. The zombie subgenre is especially guilty of this, as evidenced by both George A. Romero's latter Living Dead movies, and The Walking Dead. Oddly, 28 Days Later was the exact opposite. Both the 2002 original and its 2007 follow-up told relatively isolated stories against the backdrop of a world-ending viral outbreak. The implications of Alex Garland's core idea, however, went far beyond what either movie showed onscreen.

Cillian Murphy as Jim holding an iron bar in 28 Days Later

What Should Be Exciting

Unlike most successful horror franchises, 28 Days Later actually had the scope and potential to justify a third movie. Alas, that would mean nothing unless the dynamic duo of Boyle and Garland returned. Juan Carlos Fresnadillo did an admirable job with 28 Weeks Later, but the sequel notably lacked Garland's knack for grim storytelling and Boyle's aptitude for blending subtle character nuances with urban grit. Happily, the 28 Years Later confirmation reveals Boyle and Garland are back. Cillian Murphy and Naomie Harris reprising their roles would be the cherry on top, but the prospect of 28 Years Later with the original writer and director should be hugely exciting by itself.

Naomie Harris as Selena in 28 Days Later

A single 28 Years Later movie is exciting. An entire trilogy is concerning. One major detail from the original report claims that Danny Boyle and Alex Garland's 28 Years Later will be the first entry in a planned trilogy of movies. What should have been an exciting moment in horror history, therefore, becomes the latest example of the industry's efforts to wring any and all viable franchises - and some non-viable ones too - for all they are worth.

Close up of Hannah in 28 Days Later

Potential Backfire

Not only are movie studios overly reliant on sequels, the gargantuan success of the MCU has sparked numerous ill-advised attempts to turn IPs into 'shared universes.' At the same time, the onslaught of in-house streaming platforms has created a demand for more content - preferably with a nostalgic element. The big problem with this strategy is that trilogies and franchises can end prematurely if their first or second entries underperform, and that presents a very real risk for 28 Years Later. If the commercial and/or critical response is underwhelming, the new 28 Years Later trilogy could be cut short, leaving plot threads and character arcs painfully unresolved.

Cillian Murphy walking through a deserted London street in 28 Days Later

Once again, that defeats the point of making 28 Years Later in the first place. By committing to multiple movies, Boyle and Garland would be taking a massive gamble in trusting that all three movies actually get made. 28 Years Later is only exciting if it enhances the previous movies, but should the full plan not come to fruition, the franchise would be left in a worse position than it currently is. The mythology may have untapped potential, but at least 28 Days and 28 Weeks Later currently work as a two-part story. An unfinished continuation trilogy would represent a sorry end for such a genre-defining chapter in horror.

Brendan Gleeson, Cillian Murphy, and Naomi Harris in 28 Days Later