58 - 28 Weeks Later (2007): British Horror’s Brutal Zombie Follow-Up

This time on General Witchfinders, we’re heading back into the blood-soaked, Rage-infected streets of post-apocalyptic Britain with 28 Weeks Later — the 2007 zombie horror sequel to Danny Boyle’s groundbreaking 28 Days Later.

Directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, 28 Weeks Later builds on the legacy of 28 Days Later (which we covered in episode 43), expanding the world of the Rage Virus and the aftermath of a collapsed society. While Danny Boyle didn’t direct this time around — due to commitments on Sunshine — he stayed on as executive producer and even directed key sequences himself, including the ferocious opening scene.

The original creators — Boyle, producer Andrew Macdonald, and screenwriter Alex Garland — initially considered a direct sequel called 29 Days Later, potentially continuing the story of Cillian Murphy and Naomie Harris’s characters. Instead, they pivoted to a broader, bleaker vision: an infected London under military quarantine, a supposed victory against the virus, and the inevitable resurgence of horror.

Set weeks after the events of the first film, 28 Weeks Later follows the failed attempt to repopulate a ‘safe zone’ in London, guarded by the US Army. As expected in a British zombie film, things go catastrophically wrong.

Filming took place in iconic London locations, including Canary Wharf and 3 Mills Studios. A sequence planned for Wembley Stadium had to be shot in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium instead. The film’s viral marketing campaign — quite literally — included a huge biohazard warning projected onto the White Cliffs of Dover.

The Rage Virus was back.

Opening in 2007, 28 Weeks Later landed in over 2,000 US cinemas and took nearly $10 million on its opening weekend. It didn’t match the cultural impact of 28 Days Later, but it cemented the franchise as a landmark of modern British horror — helping shape the next wave of post-apocalyptic zombie cinema.

28 Weeks Later features a fresh cast, including Robert Carlyle, Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner, Harold Perrineau, Idris Elba, and a young Imogen Poots. While none of the original characters return, the film builds on the terrifying groundwork Boyle and Garland laid in 28 Days Later — exploring themes of infection, trust, trauma, and institutional failure.

The trilogy-that-never-was stalled with 28 Months Later, which entered development hell. But a proper sequel, 28 Years Later, has finally been greenlit, with Danny Boyle returning to direct and Cillian Murphy on board as producer. The Rage Virus isn’t done with us yet.

If you’re searching for podcasts about 28 Weeks Later, 28 Days Later, 28 Years Later, Danny Boyle, zombie movies, the Rage Virus, post-apocalyptic horror, or modern British horror cinema — you’ve found the right episode.

Expect discussion of British zombie films, Rage-infected lore, military horror, abandoned London, and whether 28 Weeks Later holds up next to its predecessor.

🎧 Subscribe to General Witchfinders for more British horror deep dives, and catch up on our previous episode on 28 Days Later for the full Rage Virus experience.

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