Earlier this month, the exciting news broke that Danny Boyle and Alex Garland are teaming up for the highly anticipated sequel to “28 Days Later” and “28 Weeks Later,” titled “28 Years Later.”

In a recent update reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Sony has officially acquired the project, emerging victorious in a competitive bidding war for the rights to this much-anticipated addition to the franchise.

Cillian Murphy, known for his role in “Oppenheimer,” is set to take on the role of executive producer. The possibility of him also stepping into an acting role in the project is being considered, although details remain under wraps.

The plan for the sequel involves Garland as the writer and Boyle as the director, with Garland expressing intentions to craft not only “28 Years Later” but also at least one additional sequel, and potentially two more.

Although specific deal details are undisclosed, it is reported that each movie in the franchise is expected to have a budget in the range of $60 million. However, any adjustments to these figures or compensation details during the negotiations remain unclear. The filmmakers emphasize the importance of a theatrical release for the project.

The original film, released in 2002, starred Cillian Murphy and was written by Alex Garland, with Danny Boyle directing. The story unfolds four weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the UK, as a handful of survivors embark on a quest to find sanctuary.

The 2007 sequel, “28 Weeks Later,” directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and starring Jeremy Renner, continued the narrative six months after the rage virus outbreak in Great Britain. The US Army attempts to secure a small area of London for survivors to repopulate, but unforeseen challenges arise.

Talks about a third installment in the franchise, at one point titled “28 Months Later,” have circulated for several years. Now, it seems that “28 Years Later” is finally gaining momentum in 2024. Stay tuned for further updates on this eagerly awaited project!