Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s fans will have the time of their lives this month with two films releasing. Next year will also not be a drought for them as the actor will star in the upcoming third installment of the post-apocalyptic horror film series, 28 Days Later.
The trailer for the film 28 Years Later was recently released. In it, Taylor-Johnson can be seen running for his life to avoid becoming the victim of a virus-infected individual. Although his role in the movie has not been disclosed yet, some fans have concluded from the trailer that his character is destined for a grim fate.
Some Fans Believe Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s Character in 28 Years Later Will Have a Brutal Fate
28 Days Later, released more than 2 decades ago, followed the story of Cillian Murphy’s Jim, a bicycle courier who finds himself in an apocalypse-hit society after waking up from a coma. The film was a hit with the critics and a success at the box office. Over time, it became a horror classic and gained a cult following.
The first sequel to this movie, 28 Weeks Later was released in 2007. Although Murphy and the original director and screenwriter had nothing to do with it, the film received positive reviews. The box office collection was not as impressive as the first one, but it was still significant.
Recently, Sony Pictures Entertainment dropped the trailer for 28 Years Later (via YouTube), and fans are beyond impressed with what it had to offer. It gives the audience the first glimpses at franchise newcomers, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, and a very bloodied and harassed-looking Ralph Fiennes.
However, the one concern that fans have expressed about the movie is that Taylor-Johnson’s character will be the first one to die. Here is what some of them have to say on X:
Definitely setup to be the sacrificial lamb
— Rogelio Palos (@MaestroDstrdr) December 10, 2024
Is possible or a fake out but this world is brutal he could of survived the first wave but not the second
— Alexander (@agarcia_46) December 10, 2024
This is just speculation though so other fans need not worry yet. If it is any consolation, soon, the Anna Karenina actor will be gracing the screens as the Marvel character Kraven the Hunter in an eponymous film. Before that, he will be appearing in the role of Friedrich Harding in Robert Eggers’ Gothic supernatural horror film, Nosferatu which had its world premiere in Berlin earlier this month.
Actress Jodie Comer Revealed How 28 Years Later Is Connected to the Original Movie
This movie not only marks the return of Danny Boyle to the director’s chair and Alex Garland as the screenwriter, but also Cillian Murphy who will reportedly reprise his role as Jim in this film. Although there is no sign of the Oppenheimer star in the trailer, fans are hoping to see him in the movie.
That said, earlier this year, Jodie Comer appeared in an interview for Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast where she discussed her movie, The Bikeriders. At one point during the conversation, she was also asked about 28 Years Later.
She said that Boyle’s reunion with his 28 Days Later cinematographer, Anthony Dod Mantle, and how they have connected the first movie with this one along with the addition of new elements is worth the wait.
I think there’ll be a lot of — just seeing what they’re doing with the camera work, I think there’ll be a lot of new. It’s him, it’s Danny, and I think he’s constantly trying to find new ways and I think, just seeing where they’ve gone with it and all the new additions and explorations, I think people are going to be very excited.
Rest assured, fans are in for one hell of a ride with this movie. Another exciting fact is that two more sequels of this franchise are at various stages of development as of now. The details about them are yet to be announced.
28 Years Later will be in theaters on June 20, 2025.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 28 Years Later fan theory about Aaron Taylor-Johnson?
After the trailer dropped, some fans speculated that Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s character is being set up to die early, with comments calling him a likely ‘first to die’ figure. This is purely fan guesswork sparked by the trailer, not a confirmed plot point, so it should be treated as unverified fan chatter rather than official information about the story.
Who stars in 28 Years Later and who directed it?
Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars alongside Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes. Danny Boyle returns to direct, reuniting with original screenwriter Alex Garland and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle. Cillian Murphy, the lead of the original film, was reported in connection with the project but is involved behind the scenes as an executive producer rather than reprising his on-screen role. The film is distributed by Sony Pictures.
How does 28 Years Later connect to the earlier movies in the franchise?
It continues the post-apocalyptic horror series that began with 28 Days Later (2002), which followed a courier waking from a coma into a society collapsed by the Rage virus and became a horror landmark, followed by 28 Weeks Later (2007). 28 Years Later is positioned as the next chapter, and further sequels have been reported as part of a planned continuation of the story.
