Danny Boyle and Alex Garland have teamed up again to return to the post-apocalyptic zombie universe with 28 Years Later. Picking up decades after the events of 28 Days Later, the sequel explores the aftermath of the rage virus in a fractured world.
Among the new characters introduced is Ralph Fiennes, who is talking on the role of Dr. Kelson, a character whose presence will both unsettle and intrigue audiences.
Dr. Kelson’s introduction comes with a blood-streaked face and an ominous backdrop of a towering skull structure, his appearance raises immediate questions about what kind of character this is.
During an interview with Empire, Fiennes shared some details saying: “He’s a survivor, and the way he survived is very interesting. He’s quite out-there in his views on the world.”
Fiennes goes on to hint that first impressions might be misleading, saying: “I think audiences will assume something about him and then see where it goes.”
While Kelson’s role in 28 Years Later is important, the character’s story is not just contained to this first film. Fiennes confirms he will have a larger role in the next film, Nia DaCosta’s 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, which is set to release in 2026. “
Boyle says: “He strides forward into the second film in an enormous way where the question of what he’s after and what he wants to do gets fully resolved.”
28 Years Later stars Jodie Comer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson as survivors living on a remote island, far from the infected. Their precarious peace is shattered when they venture back to the mainland, facing the horrors of a resurgent Rage Virus.
The official synopsis teases: “Sometime after the events of 28 Weeks Later, the Rage Virus has returned, and a group of survivors must endure a world ravaged by hordes of the infected.”
Joining the cast are Jack O’Connell, Erin Kellyman, and Ralph Fiennes. Fiennes described the film’s emotional core in a recent interview, saying:
“Britain is 28 years into this terrible plague of infected people… It centers on a young boy who wants to find a doctor to help his dying mother. He leads her through this beautiful northern English terrain, but of course, the infected are lurking everywhere.”
28 Years Later is the first of a planned trilogy, with both the first and second installments already filmed. Boyle returned to direct the opening chapter, while Nia DaCosta (Candyman, The Marvels) helms the sequel.
The creative team is utilizing the iPhone 15 Pro Max with specialized attachments for portions of the filming.
28 Years Later arrives in theaters on June 20, 2025.
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