Sony Pictures Unveils Release Date for Digital Debut of "28 Days Later"

Sony Pictures has announced the digital release date for the 2002 film "28 Days Later," following a record-breaking response to the trailer for the upcoming sequel, "28 Years Later." The original film, directed by Danny Boyle, will become available on streaming platforms on December 18.

The revival of interest in the original film can be attributed to the immense attention garnered by the trailer for "28 Years Later," which received 146.1 million global views. This makes it the most-watched horror trailer of the year 2024 and the second-largest trailer of all time, trailing only the "It Chapter Two" trailer. The new film serves as a follow-up to the 2007 sequel, "28 Weeks Later," directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and starring Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner, and Robert Carlyle. The upcoming sequel is again directed by Boyle and written by Alex Garland, with Cillian Murphy set to reprise his role alongside new cast members Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes. The sequel's budget is reportedly around $75 million.

In contrast to initial rumors, Cillian Murphy will not be playing a zombie role in "28 Years Later." According to new information, art dealer Angus Neill has been cast in the emaciated zombie role, having been talent-spotted by Boyle for the part. The film, which explores a world where animal rights activists have freed infected chimpanzees, leading to a zombie-like apocalypse, is set to be released in June 2025. Despites being absent from the 2007 sequel, Murphy had expressed his enthusiasm to reprise his role in future films, highlighting his eagerness to collaborate with Boyle and Garland.

Sony Pictures' move to release the original film on digital platforms in December 2024, coupled with the upcoming release of "28 Years Later" in June 2025, underscores the enduring popularity of the "28 Days Later" franchise. Fans can now look forward to reliving the post-apocalyptic world created by Boyle and reuniting with the iconic characters from the original film before the new installment arrives next year.