Based on his prevalence in marketing for 28 Years Later, it was ᴀssumed that Aaron Taylor-Johnson would have a significant role, but a different upcoming movie will actually provide him with the opportunity to truly star in a horror movie. In 28 Years Later, he starred as Jamie, the hunter/scavenger father to Alfie Williams’ Spike and husband to Jodie Comer’s Isla.
It was essentially ᴀssumed that Taylor-Johnson would be the primary lead in 28 Years Later, as he was the most high-profile star in the cast (aside from Ralph Fiennes, although it was ᴀssumed he was a supporting character) and was featured fighting the Infected in promotional materials. However, he was no more than a supporting player, and was missing from large portions of the movie.
The movie really belonged to Alfie Williams, and while Aaron Taylor-Johnson is set to return in the sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, it appears that the overarching narrative will continue to follow Williams’ character Spike. However, there is another horror movie on the horizon that will give Aaron Taylor-Johnson to finally shine as the primary star.
Werwulf Will Give Aaron Taylor-Johnson The Horror Movie Lead Role He Deserves
He’s Never Been The Primary Lead In A Horror Movie
Aaron Taylor-Johnson is now poised to reunite with Robert Eggers and his Nosferatu costar Lily-Rose Depp for Eggers’ next feature, the werewolf movie set in 13th-century England тιтled Werwulf. While Willem Dafoe has also been added to Werwulf, it seems clear that Aaron Taylor-Johnson will wind up the lead opposite Depp, while Dafoe takes a supporting role.
Despite boasting an extensive and varied filmography, Taylor-Johnson has never truly starred in a horror movie. In addition to his role in 28 Years Later and upcoming role in the sequel, he played a supporting role in Nosferatu. While his appearance was applauded, he was a clearly secondary character.
The only other movie approaching horror that Taylor-Johnson has had a role in would be 2016’s Academy Award-nominated Nocturnal Animals. However, Taylor-Johnson was merely one minor part of a large ensemble cast in what was more a psychological thriller than a true horror movie.
Werwulf is sure to be as true a horror movie as there is, especially coming off Eggers’ dark and twisted fever dream Nosferatu. While plot details are sparse, it seems reasonable to expect Taylor-Johnson, as the primary lead, to play the eponymous werewolf.
All the dialogue in Werwulf will be authentic Old English that would have been used in 13th-century English, with subтιтles and annotations to help guide the audience.
That will give the talented 35-year-old a chance to truly shine in a horror spotlight. He’ll be able to put his stamp on what will undoubtedly be the next great werewolf movie, and that should act as redemption after the semi-bait-and-switch that occurred in 28 Years Later.
