“This Young Lad…” – Aaron Taylor-Johnson Shares Surprising ’28 Years Later’ Update

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The much anticipated sequel to a beloved post-apocalyptic franchise will feature some of today’s biggest stars, but surprisingly, it appears the central role in the upcoming 28 Years Later will go to a newcomer. Some of the stars currently confirmed to appear in the sequel are the original film star, Cillian Murphy, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, Erin Kellyman, and Edvin Ryding. However, it appears their collective star power will be harnessed to propel a new name to the limelight. Details regarding the film have been trickling in bits and pieces and the latest one from Aaron Taylor-Johnson has offered a fresh perspective on how the next installment will pan out.

Taylor-Johnson recently made an appearance on the Mythical Kitchen series where the actor shared that the lead in 28 Years Later will be portrayed by a 13-year-old boy named Alfie. The actor casually revealed the update while sharing a bit of experience on set which included a mindful approach towards the boy, something he said he felt compelled to do knowing the importance of having someone to look up to, an advantage he was not lucky to have during the budding years of his career. He said:

”
I just done a movie, 28 years later, with Danny Boyle and the lead is this young lad Alfie’s 13
. I really took him under my wing and, and, and as did Danny. And we took care of him in a way that was like, I remember being that 13 year old. But I didn’t have someone who took me under my wing.”

Taylor-Johnson’s comments align with another fairly recent update shared by Fiennes while promoting his latest film, Conclave. In an interview with IndieWire, the Oscar winner went in depth into the film’s plot, revealing “it centers on a young boy who wants to find a doctor to help his dying mother.” He said;

“Britain is 28 years into this terrible plague of infected people who are violent, rabid humans with a few pockets of uninfected communities. And

it centers on a young boy who wants to find a doctor to help his dying mother. He leads his mother through this beautiful northern English terrain. But of course, around them hiding in forests and hills and woods are the infected. But he finds a doctor who is a man we might think is going to be weird and odd, but actually is a force for good.”

What Else Do We Know About ’28 Years Later’?

With a new young protagonist confirmed for 28 Years Later, the film has fulfilled a major requirement to qualify as a legacy sequel, and even more so, considering the return of Cillian Murphy to reprise the role of Jim. The sequel appears to be aiming for a new direction while paying homage to its predecessors. Audiences can also expect a groundbreaking visual experience, as 28 Years Later was reportedly filmed using an iPhone “attached on the back of huge lenses!” as Fiennes recently described to Collider’s Steve Weintraub.

28 Years Later was written by Alex Garland and directed by Danny Boyle. The movie is expected to hit theaters on June 20, 2025. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.