Three major film studios fighting over the zombie film 28 YEARS LATER by Danny Boyle

It was announced last week Danny Boyle AND Alex Garland they were officially developing another sequel to 28 days later titled 28 years later. This is a project they’ve been talking about for years and they’re finally getting the ball rolling, and it could even be the start of a trilogy.

Now we’ve learned from Hollywood Insider Jeff Sneider that three major studios are fighting for the rights to the project. Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, and Paramount Pictures are all in the mix to snag the sequel, and right now, there’s one studio that’s currently ahead of the rest. It’s explained:

“I’m told that three major studios will be battling it out for 28 years after Danny Boyle, who will definitely have a role for Cillian Murphy… if he’s willing to come back and do it. Let’s see how the Oscars go.

“However, I am told that Warner Bros., Universal and Paramount have been chasing this goal and that Warner Bros. is the current favorite to get the horror package.”

It is also explained that WB is in the lead Mike DeLuca AND Pam Abdy they’re trying to expand WB’s slate like they did at MGM’s pre-sale in hopes of further enticing Comcast owner Brian Roberts to bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. Another source said they would be surprised if the screenwriter Alex Garland allowed 28 years later to land at Paramount following their collaboration Annihilation.

Boyle will direct the first installment of the trilogy and Garland will write all three. The budget for each film would be around $75 million.

In a previous interview, Boyle hinted at his interest in making the film, saying: “I would be very tempted [to direct it]. It seems like a really good time. It’s funny, I hadn’t thought about it until you said it, and I remembered ‘Bang, this script!’ which is set in England again, very much about England. Anyway, we’ll see… who knows?”

Boyle went on to explain: “It could come back into the spotlight because one of the things that’s happening in the industry right now is that it has to be a big reason to go to the movies, because there are fewer and fewer of them. It’s difficult for film distribution companies and theater chains to show films, they struggle to get people to the cinema unless it’s something like Top Gun: Maverick or Marvel. But a third party would attract people, if it were decent enough.

As for what we can expect, when previously teasing the third film, Garland said, “I have a really interesting idea for this, but it’s a much bigger movie, and one of the things that 28 days later it’s that it was small and punk and this idea is less small and punk. But Danny and I talk about it. Every couple of years the question will come up, “Do you want to do this?” and then for some reason it never happens.”

Cilian Murphy, who starred in the film, previously said of the franchise: “Every time I meet Danny or Alex I always talk about it. I showed it to my kids recently – on Halloween about four or five years ago – and they loved it. It really holds up, which is surprising for a film that’s 20 years old. So yes, I love the idea and it appeals to me a lot.

It seems 28 years later will actually get made and it will be cool to see what story they tell.