As time draws nearer for the first installment in the new set of films, 28 Years Later 3 gets an uncertain development update from creator Alex Garland. The horror franchise is set in the United Kingdom and sees the country fall into ruins as a virus known as Rage quickly spreads and turns the infected into fast and highly aggressive zombies. After a near-two-decade hiatus, it was revealed the series was returning with a new trilogy, beginning with 28 Years Later, with Garland expected to write all three and Danny Boyle returning to direct the first and third movies.
Now, however, Garland offered a more uncertain update about the third installment during an interview with The Playlist for his new war movie, Warfare. After reflecting on why he wanted to return to the series after being absent for its 2007 sequel, Garland revealed he’s only penned the scripts for the first two 28 Years Later movies. When asked whether he would be writing the script for the third one, he wouldn’t confirm if he was returning as originally planned.
What This Means For 28 Years Later 3
Boyle Has Indicated They’re Not Rushing The Trilogy
Considering all three movies were confirmed at once, it does come as something of a surprise that not only is a script not already complete for the third installment, but that Garland himself isn’t sure he’ll be back for the third 28 Years Later. Filming on the first two movies was conducted back-to-back, which could have led some to believe that production would subsequently begin on the trilogy capper. However, it was previously reported that Boyle wants to wait for audience feedback on the first film before filming cameras start rolling on the third one.
As such, it also makes sense why Garland doesn’t have a proper script update for 28 Years Later 3, as chances are that he’s also similarly waiting for what people say about the first film before writing it. It’s still likely that he and Boyle have either a general story outline, or a properly detailed outline, in place for the trilogy’s finale, given that they began development on all three at once. However, with his lack of confirmation on returning for the third installment, it’s possible he could pᴀss off the writing reins to someone else.
Garland contributed uncredited additional material for the franchise’s first sequel, 28 Weeks Later, as director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, Enrique López-Lavigne and Jesús Olmo spent a year rewriting its original script.
Should Garland indeed return to the fold, and he and Boyle only turn to feedback on the first film, it could very well be confirmed before the end of Summer 2025 that 28 Years Later 3 is moving forward properly. Considering the new trilogy’s A-list talent, scheduling for filming might prove something of a challenge, though it still seems entirely possible for production to begin closer to the end of the year, as that would provide Garland with at least four months to pen the script, and the rest of production lined up accordingly.
Our Take On Garland’s 28 Years Later 3 Update
The Filmmaker Should Return To Finish His Trilogy
Given there’s still nearly a year remaining until the second installment’s release, I’m not all that worried that 28 Years Later 3 doesn’t have a script, nor that Garland hasn’t confirmed his return. While I am intrigued by how much fan feedback will impact the threequel, I do respect that approach, and Garland’s own recent comments about wanting to take a hiatus from directing after the acclaimed A24 film Warfare tell me he might have found himself reinvigorated on the writing side of things and will get to work on the trilogy capper as soon as it’s time to.
Source: The Playlist
