Sony Acquires Rights To 28 Years Later

Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s 28 Years Later has an official distribution home, with Sony picking up the rights to the zombie threequel. As reported in mid-January, Boyle and Garland are reuniting for the film, which is the long-awaited third entry in the franchise started with 28 Days Later. THR reports that Sony won a bidding war for the rights to the new sequel package which includes two films.

In an interesting note, the report says that Cillian Murphy, who was launched into fame with the first film, is executive producing. It is noted that Murphy could potentially return in front of the camera, though plot details are being kept under wraps.

The bidding for the new package came down to Warner Bros. and Sony, with the latter studio winning out. Each movie would have a budget in the area of $60 million and while details aren’t known of the deal, the filmmakers considered a theatrical release important. Boyle will direct the first sequel with Garland writing. Garland will also write Part Two, as the second is being dubbed, though Boyle is not currently set to direct that one and a director will be found later.

The original film released in 2002 and was a massive hit with $84.6 million worldwide against an $8 million budget and put Garland on the map while inspiring a new generation of zombie movies and shows. Garland and Boyle were executive producers on the 2007 sequel 28 Weeks Later, which grossed $65.8 million against a $15 million budget.