'28 Years Later' director Danny Boyle returns with an evolved zombie film.

On the morning of the 18th, an online live stream was held for a video press conference with director Danny Boyle, who directed the film '28 Years Later'.

'28 Years Later' (directed by Danny Boyle, written by Alex Garland, distributed by Sony Pictures) depicts a boy named Spike, born on Holy Island where some survivors live in complete isolation, stepping foot on the virus-affected mainland for the first time and facing evolved infected beings, experiencing extreme terror.

This film, a monumental work that first introduced running zombies and revolutionized the traditional zombie film genre, presents a more expanded story as the sequel to '28 Days Later', regarded as one of the greatest horror films of the 2000s. Academy Award-winning director Danny Boyle once again helms the project, and screenwriter Alex Garland also rejoins to continue the unique identity of '28 Days Later'.

This film features Jodie Comer, known for her role in the series 'Killing Eve' and the film 'Free Guy', along with outstanding actors Aaron Johnson and Ralph Fiennes, who previously collaborated in 'Kingsman: The Golden Circle', aiming to captivate audiences worldwide. Additionally, Cillian Murphy, the actor who won the Best Actor award at the 96th Academy Awards for 'Oppenheimer' and starred in '28 Days Later', participated as an executive producer, contributing to the expanded universe and solid storyline.

Director Danny Boyle opened the conference by saying, "I feel sorry for not being able to go to Korea. I am currently stuck in London. I regret not being able to meet directly in Korea."

Regarding the reason for presenting this after 20 years, he stated, "First of all, the script was so good, and it contained an amazing story. There was the coronavirus pandemic that happened globally, and the scenes shown in the first film were not detached from reality. You could see empty streets just by stepping outside the door. All these elements naturally flowed into the film."

He particularly noted, "Moreover, the most important thing was the affection of the fans for the first film. The affection has not subsided even after 20 years. We collaborated with the production team and wondered what it would be like to do it again. We brought back the rage virus shown in the first film and will explore how the outcomes from the first film continue. However, with new stories emerging, many people will enjoy it. There is a great new story, and excellent actors performed brilliantly."

When asked about what differentiates '28 Years Later', he explained, "It's an original setting and experience. The fans really liked it. By showing how the infected behave and the very different behaviors of the infected, it has become a film that redefines the zombie genre. How survivors live and their behaviors were also well received by the fans. It suggests that not only people survive but so does the virus. There are original elements such as the unique script, the acting of the actors, and how the virus unfolds if it survives."

Regarding the elements he focused on to maintain authenticity, Danny Boyle said, "It's Cillian Murphy. Although he doesn't appear in this film, he played a significant role as an executive producer. The connection point between this film and the trilogy of the second and third parts, which have already been shot and will be released next year, is Cillian Murphy." He added, "The second film involves the infected. They are quite similar to the infected we saw before but have evolved. Their behaviors have changed. The infected we first saw were random, very violent, and fast. The infected you will see this time are different. They have evolved into several different types."

In regards to the message he wants to convey to audiences, he said, "I hope it becomes an exciting and terrifying film. There are unexpected heartwarming moments as well. Through these, I think it would be good to reflect on what humanity is and what sustains humanity. It would be nice to see if we can maintain our humanity in extreme situations." He added, "Moreover, the collective experience of audiences in the theater is important. There is a perception that films are in crisis due to streaming platforms, but there is a collective experience that films can provide. Like in sports or concerts, I think we want to be with others. I hope audiences will think about this through films."

Meanwhile, '28 Years Later' is set to be released on the 19th.

[Photo] Sony Pictures

[OSEN]