The first look at the extremely ominous poster for 28 Years Later has just been released, and it’s definitely giving alarm, as we see a huge red biohazard sign lined with skulls. The highly anticipated sequel to 28 Days Later, the movie that launched Cillian Murphy‘s career back in 2001, is set to open in theaters in June 2025, and original director Danny Boyle is returning to the fold to tell the next chapter of the story, which is the first part of a trilogy. Nia DaCosta will helm the second part, which has already completed shooting, according to reports.

The original film, 28 Days Later, starred Academy Award winner Cillian Murphy (doesn’t that feel great to say, even now?) as Jim, a courier who awakens from a coma 28 days after a virus outbreak turns people into zombies and plunges society into chaos. You’d wish you hadn’t woken up at all. Murphy didn’t appear in the sequel, 28 Weeks Later, but he is on board as an executive producer for the new film and will be making an appearance in the movie, although the size of his role isn’t known. Adding to the excitement, the star-studded cast for 28 Years Later includes Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes. The roles the three stars will play remain a total enigma for now, but their participation is a sign that the story which has been written by Boyle and Alex Garland is a fairly intriguing one. The three big names joining could signal a new blockbuster direction for the franchise, too, given its modest roots.

What Was ’28 Days Later’ About?

Running zombies. That’s the big thing. It redefined the zombie genre by giving the undead/virus-stricken the ability to run without ever getting tired. The pandemic breaks out due to activists releasing infected chimpanzees, which leads to a viral outbreak and societal collapse, and the story follows Jim, who wakes from a coma 28 days later to find a desolate London, while the film was praised for its atmosphere and innovative take on zombies, becoming a critical and commercial success. Its sequel, 28 Weeks Later, which didn’t involve Murphy or Boyle, was set six months later as the US Army and NATO attempted to get a handle on things and rebuild Britain, zoning in on a family trying to stay together.

28 Years Later is expected to hit theaters on June 20, 2025. Stream 28 Weeks Later on Hulu while we wait.

via Collider