Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes Talk Danny Boyle’s Genius at ’28 Years Later’ World Premiere: “It’s Horror, But I Was Struck By How Moved I Was”

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On Wednesday evening, London’s Leicester Square became off-limits due to the arrival of the cast and team behind Danny Boyle’s upcoming zombie sequel titled “28 Years Later,” who gathered at the Odeon Luxe cinema.

warning signs for biohazards were prevalent at the central London cinema, where both spectators and media personnel gathered on a carpet that appeared to be stained with blood. The film’s leading actors, including Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, and newcomer Alfie Williams, as well as director Boyle and scriptwriter Alex Garland, were among those conversing with the press on the scene.

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Biohazard alerts could be seen at the heart of London’s cinema, where a blood-stained carpet was the backdrop for fans, guests, and media interacting with the film’s cast. The ensemble included Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, young debutant Alfie Williams, as well as director Boyle and scriptwriter Alex Garland.

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A blood-stained carpet served as the setting for biohazard notices at a cinema in central London, where attendees and journalists were mingling with the film’s stars: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, Alfie Williams, Boyle (the director), and Alex Garland (the writer).

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The carpet was stained with what appeared to be blood at a cinema in central London where biohazard warnings were posted. Here, the film’s stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, Alfie Williams, Boyle (director), and Alex Garland (writer) were interacting with fans and journalists on this blood-stained carpet.

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In the heart of London, at a cinema where biohazard signs were displayed due to a blood-soaked carpet, the film’s cast – Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, Alfie Williams, Boyle (director), and Alex Garland (writer) – were seen chatting with fans and journalists.

OR

At a cinema in central London, where a blood-stained carpet warned of biohazards, the stars of the film – Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, Alfie Williams, Boyle (director), and Alex Garland (writer) – were surrounded by fans and journalists.

Approximately three decades have passed since the Rage Virus broke free from a bioweapons facility, leading to an unyielding quarantine. Despite the harsh containment measures, certain individuals have learned to survive amongst the infected population.

A secluded coastal village in Northumbria, England is linked to the mainland by a fortified causeway. Tough-as-nails Jamie (Taylor-Johnson) has raised his 12-year-old son, Spike (Williams), with the courage to shoot an arrow through an infected’s neck when necessary. However, when Spike discovers there may be someone outside the island who can help his ill mother (Comer), he takes a huge risk to locate them.

23 years having elapsed, Boyle expressed that they could now venture into bold moves with the project. He shared this sentiment with The Hollywood Reporter on the red carpet regarding his latest film. “Our goal was to create a movie as unique and fresh as the original when it debuted… The enhancements on the infected are a pleasure to film and observe.” He added, “I believe viewers will appreciate the improvements.

As a gamer, I never thought a zombie movie could touch my heart like “The Outbreak” did. I was expecting just another horror flick, but it moved me deeply. The humor in it was unexpected yet refreshing. What stood out to me was the richness of the script and the central theme – the complex bond between a mother and her son. This isn’t your typical relationship portrayed in these types of movies.

She went on to express, “It was truly wonderful being guided by Danny.” For me personally, collaborating with Danny Boyle is an opportunity I’ll never have again in such a way. This has been the most extraordinary journey,” she continued, before expressing her admiration for a 14-year-old Williams.

Williams found working on a Danny Boyle set to be incredibly creative, distinctive, and daring, yet also a genuinely kind individual. When it came to advice from veterans like Comer, Taylor-Johnson, and Fiennes, the young actor simply stated that it wasn’t about specific instructions; instead, he could learn by observing them, adopting their methods, and mimicking their energy as they prepared for their roles, discovering various techniques along the way.

The film produced by Columbia Pictures serves as a continuation of the movies “28 Days Later” from 2002, featuring Cillian Murphy, and its sequel “28 Weeks Later” released in 2007.

In 2026, we can expect to see the next chapter, titled “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” by Nia DaCosta, hitting the screens. This sequel brings back Murphy as Jim, a character who survived the initial outbreak, and Robert De Niro lends his producer’s hat to both films.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but share some exciting news about the upcoming third installment of our beloved trilogy! According to Boyle himself, the success of “28 Years Later” will significantly impact its production. He put it quite straightforwardly: “The third one’s fate is closely tied to this film’s performance.”

The unique British charm that defines this series will undoubtedly be carried forward in the third film, as every character and location is distinctively British. It’s a testament to the purest form of British filmmaking. So, if “28 Years Later” performs well internationally, it could pave the way for the third movie!

Tom Rothman, CEO of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, showed great satisfaction, agreeing with Boyle’s statement. “The audience will be our judge,” he declared regarding the third film. “I won’t need to decide myself,” he added. He expressed a strong sense of optimism. “I’m keeping my fingers crossed,” he said. “We’ve already started working on the next one, which is quite rare. We had faith in those making the movie.

That’s an intelligent question indeed! He hasn’t changed one bit. Time seems to have made me age, while he remains youthful and brimming with enthusiasm. He continues to shatter conventions just as he did in the past, proving that his dynamism is unchanged.

At the film’s premiere, THR had a brief chat with Ralph Fiennes about stepping into the shoes of President Snow, a part originally portrayed by the late Donald Sutherland, for the upcoming movie “The Hunger Games: Dawn of the Reaping.

Fiennes expressed his excitement about getting cast in the movie, based on Suzanne Collins’ book with the same title. He admitted to being a fan of Donald Sutherland. However, he won’t strive to become Sutherland, as no one can replicate him. Yet, he believes that the character Sutherland brought to life is intricate… The depth of its psychology, he hopes to somehow mirror in his portrayal.

28 Years Later is in theaters June 19.

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2025-06-18 21:55