The first trailer for the long-awaited sequel, 28 Years Later, has finally dropped, setting a grim and terrifying tone for the next chapter in the iconic zombie series. Scheduled to hit theaters on June 20, 2025, the preview teases a fractured society clinging to survival, the introduction of new key characters, and the possible return of a familiar face in a truly horrifying new form. The world has changed, and the virus seems to have gotten much, much worse.
A Glimpse into a Terrified and Fractured Future
The trailer immediately throws viewers into a bleak reality, nearly three decades after the initial Rage Virus outbreak. We see a small community of survivors living on a tiny, isolated island, a fragile refuge connected to the infected mainland by a single causeway. Their existence is governed by strict rules and a constant, gnawing fear that hangs heavy in the air.
These aren’t hardened warriors, but the desperate leftovers of humanity. The footage shows them scavenging for basic necessities like clean water and food, their faces etched with exhaustion and suspicion. It’s clear that their greatest threat may not just be the infected, but the darkness within their own fractured society. They whisper rumors of other survivors, unsure if they will find allies or even greater monsters out in the wasteland.
Is that Jim? A Familiar Face in a Horrifying New Light
Perhaps the most shocking moment in the trailer is the hint of Cillian Murphy’s character, Jim, from the original 28 Days Later. The camera lingers on a gaunt, snarling figure chained and gagged, displaying all the signs of a feral infected. The resemblance is uncanny, leaving fans to speculate on a horrifying possibility.
Is this what became of the man who woke up alone in a hospital all those years ago? The trailer offers no easy answers, instead posing terrifying questions. If that is Jim, what could have happened to twist him into this monstrous state? This potential return is not a heroic comeback, but a nightmarish transformation that redefines the stakes of survival.
New Survivors and an Unforgiving Mainland
The trailer also introduces new characters who are brave enough to venture into the unknown. We see a tense and rugged Aaron Taylor-Johnson, armed with a bow and arrow that he holds like a lifeline. He is accompanied by a younger character played by Alfie Williams, whose curious eyes suggest he has never known a world before the collapse.
Their journey off the island quickly reveals a world of new horrors. They navigate abandoned towns and desolate fields, discovering that the few remaining humans can be just as dangerous as the infected. One scene highlights the disturbing ways survivors have adapted.
- The trailer shows at least one infected person tied up in a bizarre, artistic way, suggesting some survivors have started experimenting on them or developed strange rituals for control.
This single detail paints a picture of a world where morality has been shattered and replaced by something much darker.
A Haunting Atmosphere of Dread and Decay
Director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland are masters of atmosphere, and this trailer proves they haven’t lost their touch. The tone is set with deeply unsettling imagery, including children watching old Teletubbies tapes, a symbol of lost innocence now swallowed by terror. The cheerful nostalgia clashes horrifically with the dark, decaying world outside.
Adding to the dread is a haunting voiceover reciting lines from Rudyard Kipling’s poem “Boots,” which creates a rhythmic, marching dread that mirrors the shuffling of the infected. This film series has a history of building tension, and the third installment looks to continue that legacy.
| Year | Film |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 28 Days Later |
| 2007 | 28 Weeks Later |
| 2025 | 28 Years Later |
The trailer suggests the infected themselves have evolved, becoming meaner and more terrifying than ever before. It all combines to promise a sequel that honors its roots while pushing the horror into a disturbing new era.
