‘Best zombie film ever made’ sequel gets major update after 17-year wait© Sundance/WireImage

After an agonizing wait, horror devotees are buzzing with the latest scoop on the long-awaited follow-up to the iconic 28 Days Later.

The seminal flick, which hit screens back in 2002 and featured Cillian Murphy waking to zombified chaos in London, directed by Danny Boyle, is praised as a top-tier zombie cinema classic.

Its successor, 28 Weeks Later, dropped in 2007, setting up a hefty 17-year gap before the next chapter. At last, enthusiasts have been thrown a bone about the third movie, 28 Years Later, set for a cinematic release in June of the following year, reports the Daily Star.

The new narrative will trace a young lad in northern England endeavouring to rescue his mum nearly three decades post the original’s events. Expect star power from Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, with Boyle once again at the helm.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 10: Cillian Murphy, winner of the Best Actor in a Leading Role award for “Oppenheimer”, onstage in the press room at the 96th Annual Academy Awards at Ovation Hollywood on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)© Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

To whip up a frenzy, the movie’s poster is now out, emblazoned with the chilling phrase “Time didn’t heal anything” over skulls arrayed into a threatening biohazard emblem. Film buffs can barely hold back their enthusiasm with such tantalising news, queueing up to share their thoughts on the sneak peek. Among countless excited voices, one fanatic exclaimed: “I’m so psyched for this movie, huge fan of the previous films and this film will no doubt be absolutely amazing when it comes out, thank you Sony for bringing us back to this universe!”

One fan expressed their anticipation, stating they’ve “waited years for a third film”, while another suggested: “Triple feature marathon anyone.”

The absence of Cillian Murphy’s name from the promotional material sparked speculation among dedicated fans about his role in the forthcoming film. Despite missing out on 28 Weeks Later, the Academy Award-winning actor is set to return to the franchise in an unexpected manner.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson attends the photocall for© Getty

When asked about Murphy’s involvement, Sony Motion Pictures Group chairman Tom Rothman told Deadline: “Yes, but in a surprising way and in a way that grows, let me put it that way…

“This is Danny (Boyle) at his best, combined with a very commercial genre, like we had with Edgar Wright and Baby Driver. Sometimes when you put a real signature director into a commercial arena, it elevates it.”