28 Years Later will retcon the last movie’s ending, which means one huge mystery in the franchise may never get solved. The upcoming project will follow a group of survivors living off the mainland in the UK. The cast for 28 Years Later is already shaping up to be a spectacular affair, including the likes of Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, and Ralph Fiennes. With the “rage virus” growing stronger, the new chapter in the post-apocalyptic world could be the most compelling story yet. However, a recent interview with Empire reveals the rest of the world remains unaffected by the outbreak.

The writer for 28 Years Later has since addressed the confusing canon after making the decisive move to ignore its predecessors. The final scene of 28 Weeks Later shows a mᴀss of infected in the streets of Paris, suggesting that the outbreak has spread to other countries — an international epidemic that 28 Years Later will overlook. What’s more notable, 28 Weeks Later reveals Andy has immunity. That being said, the confirmed details of 28 Years Later imply this intended route may get disregarded, as the virus is unable to be contained, or controlled.

If 28 Years Later Ignores The Last Movie’s Ending, We’ll Never Find Out About Andy’s Immunity

28 Years Later Could Backtrack On 28 Weeks Later‘s Big Cliffhanger

There are huge implications for 28 Years Later ignoring the previous movie’s ending, one of which suggests audiences may never find out anymore about Andy’s immunity to the Rage Virus. For the most part, 28 Weeks Later ends with uncertainty around Andy and Tammy’s survival. The children reach Wembley Stadium, where Flynn discovers Andy was bitten by his father. He decides to fly them out of Britain, but their fate is left open to interpretation. Interestingly, Andy is asymptomatic like his mother and does not show signs of aggression, but it’s unclear why, or how, Alice and Andy are exempt.

Frustratingly, the immunity to the virus cannot be explored further if 28 Years Later does retcon the previous chapter. What makes this worse is that immunity within the family is a crucial element in the evolving narrative of the series. 28 Weeks Later shows that Alice and Andy are still carriers, whether they developed immunity or not — proving that the “rage virus” has the ability to evolve. Andy’s contrasting experience with his mother’s would have offered an excellent opportunity for further exploration, particularly considering 28 Years Later highlights how the virus has changed in response to humans with growing immunity.

28 Years Later Probably Couldn’t Happen If Andy’s Immunity Had Led To A Cure

The Outbreak Would Have Been Contained Far Quicker If There Was A Cure

If Andy’s immunity had led to a cure, the events of 28 Years Later would be far less impactful. A cure would accelerate the rate at which the virus could be contained on a global scale, which reduces the stakes for any future installment. This is along with the original sequel implying that the infection was rapidly abating, as a result of the victims dying from starvation. As the entire premise for the upcoming movie hinges on the reintroduction of the “rage virus,” if a cure existed, there would be no need for the new story.

In addition to this, the core of the franchise rests upon the dread surrounding the re-emergence of the virus. With a cure, there would be little need for heightened levels of suspense, which is ultimately what sets this franchise apart from other films within the zombie subgenre. Evidently, the threat posed by the virus would be far less imminent, meaning there wouldn’t necessarily be a need for military action or quarantine zones. It’s likely that 28 Years Later could not exist if Andy’s immunity set up a cure, as the outbreak would not last long enough to justify the sequel.

Is 28 Years Later Not Following 28 Weeks Later The Right Call?

More Details About 28 Years Later Are Required Before Making A Decision

It is difficult to say whether 28 Years Later diverting from 28 Weeks Later is the right call without knowing more about the upcoming feature. There are bound to be some disappointed viewers if 28 Years Later ignores 28 Weeks Later, as disregarding the efforts of previous films often alienates audiences as it renders prior plot points and character growth meaningless. What’s more, the extended timeframe could mean 28 Years Later‘s focus on new characters may leave more unanswered questions about the fate of its previous heroes, such as Cillian Murphy’s Jim from 28 Days Later.

Shifting away from 28 Weeks Later‘s canon could benefit 28 Years Later. Considering its status as one of the most beloved franchises in the horror genre, there are tremendously high expectations for the new movie. Consequently, it would be beneficial for 28 Years Later to deviate from 28 Weeks Later‘s more contentious elements. A redirection means the creators can create a fresh premise, where the infected pose a far greater threat than they had previously. The trailer for 28 Years Later hints that 28 Weeks Later won’t fully impact the series, which is an important development for the franchise.

Source: Empire