MOVIE NEWS – 28 Years Later, the long-anticipated follow-up to 28 Days Later, revisits the genre-defining 2002 zombie thriller with a striking new visual style. While the sequel sticks to the aesthetic of its predecessor, it introduces a major change that will shape how audiences experience the terrifying story.

In an interview with IGN, director Danny Boyle revealed that the sequel was shot in widescreen, a departure from the original’s 4:3 aspect ratio captured on a digital video recorder. The new film uses a 2.76:1 aspect ratio, offering a much wider, more immersive frame that forces viewers to constantly “scan, look around” for zombies. Boyle shared insights about this pivotal visual change and how it amplifies the sequel’s suspense:

“We used a very widescreen format in this one. We thought we’d benefit from the unease that the first film created about the speed and the velocity, the visceral [aspect] of the way the infected were depicted. If you’re on a widescreen format, they could be anywhere… you have to keep scanning, looking around for them, really.”

This new “big” change was achieved using 20 iPhones for select scenes. The 28 Years Later crew engineered a unique rig that combined over a dozen phone cameras at once, creating the widescreen visuals (shown in the image below). As reported earlier, the filmmakers turned to the iPhone 15 Pro Max to realize this fresh style. Boyle highlighted how the technology was adapted for different setups, including a remarkable shot with the 20-camera rig.

“One for eight cameras, which can be carried very easily by one person, one for 10 cameras, and one for 20. I never say this, but there is an incredible shot in the second half [of the film] where we use the 20-rig camera, and you’ll know it when you see it. … It’s quite graphic but it’s a wonderful shot that uses that technique, and in a startling way that kind of kicks you into a new world rather than thinking you’ve seen it before.”

Cast, Crew, and Storyline

28 Years Later is set to premiere on June 20, 2025. It’s helmed by Danny Boyle and penned by Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Civil War), the team behind the groundbreaking 2002 original. Cillian Murphy returns for the trilogy, but this summer’s installment features an all-new cast: Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, and Ralph Fiennes. Here’s the official synopsis:

It’s been nearly three decades since the rage virus broke out of a bioweapons lab, and even in the face of relentless quarantine, some have found a way to live among the infected. One group survives on a small island connected to the mainland by a fortified causeway. When one member ventures out on a mission into the mainland’s heart of darkness, he unearths secrets, wonders, and horrors that have transformed not only the infected but also the survivors.

Source: IGN