How The World Of 28 Years Later Has Changed Since 28 Weeks Later

Spoilers for 28 Years Later are below!

Summary

28 Years Later reveals what happened with the Rage virus hitting Paris at the end of 28 Weeks Later.
The UK has been completely cut off from the rest of the world, leaving it to fend for itself.
New types of infected have evolved over the years, pitting the survivors against new horrors in 28 Years Later.

The world of 28 Years Later has drastically changed since the events seen in the franchise’s last installment, 28 Weeks Later. The franchise started in 2002 with 28 Days Later, which follows Cillian Murphy’s Jim as he wakes up in a hospital, finding himself alone, only to discover that London has been overrun by people infected by the Rage virus, which turns them into fast-moving zombies. Jim’s journey sees him meeting other uninfected people along the way, hoping to survive the virus’ hold on their country.

The sequel, 2007’s 28 Weeks Later, follows a new group of characters. The film sees the U.S. military aiding the United Kingdom in dispatching infected individuals, setting up safe zones, and reintegrating people into specific areas. This plan falls apart when infected people end up swarming the safe zones, forcing people into a fight for survival. The infected even break the UK quarantine, with the end of the movie showing them in Paris, France. 28 Years Later continues the story, picking up long after the events of 28 Weeks Later, pitting the movie’s characters against a disturbing new reality.

sunshine-28 years later-chris evans-cillian murphy

Could 28 Years Later Revive The Cillian Murphy & Chris Evans Sci-Fi Film The Director Intended As A Trilogy?

Could 28 Years Later help revive Danny Boyle’s trilogy plans for Chris Evans and Cillian Murphy’s underappreciated sci-fi film?

What Happened To The Rage Virus Taking Paris At The End Of 28 Weeks Later?

The final shot in 28 Weeks Later shows a group of infected running free, only to then show them heading toward the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Many fans assumed this event would influence the events of the next movie in the series, seeing the Rage virus break free from the UK and make its way through Europe and the rest of the world. Given the state of things in the trailers for 28 Years Later, it could be presumed that this outcome came to pass. However, 28 Years Later lets audiences know from the start that the Rage virus in Paris didn’t end the world.

The opening of 28 Years Later features a short exposition, informing viewers of what has happened since the last movie and letting them know that the Rage virus outbreak in France has been quelled. Europe kept the virus from spreading, holding the infection in the UK. While the movie doesn’t specify how harmful the Rage virus spread in Europe was, 28 Years Later is quick to retcon the zombies in Paris, ensuring the scale of the outbreak was not global. This also sets the events of 28 Years Later squarely in the UK.

The UK Has Been Cut Off From The Rest Of The World In 28 Years Later

28 years later jodie comer ralph fiennes bone

After Europe fought back the Rage virus from running rampant throughout its countries, the outbreak only persisted in the UK, an island country, allowing it to be quarantined. The plans to wipe out the infected and reintegrate people back into the existing infrastructure of the UK, as seen in 28 Weeks Later, were abandoned. The United Kingdom was cut off from the rest of the world, and the remaining uninfected people were left to fend for themselves. A zone around the UK is patrolled by military ships from other countries whose sole job is to ensure nothing goes to or leaves the island country.

That is the world where the characters of 28 Years Later find themselves, as they have found a way to survive in the UK for nearly 30 years. The survivors have no help from the outside world, living with only the supplies they can find, make, or grow. Audiences also learn from a stranded soldier that even he is out of luck. His people won’t be coming to save him, and he’ll be killed if he tries to leave. Even as people continued to survive through the drastic circumstances beset by the Rage virus, the infected thrived as well.

The Rage Virus Has Created New Types Of Infected

28 years later aaron taylor johnson alpha infected-1

28 Years Later features the same type of fast-moving zombies the franchise introduced in 2002. However, in the years since 28 Days Later, the Rage virus has created two distinct new types of infected people. The first type encountered by Spike (Alfie Williams) and his dad (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) are referred to as Slow Lows. The Slow Lows are bulky, obese-looking infected whose movements stay low to the ground, meaning the characters are likely to see them crawling rather than walking, hence the name. This type of infected persists, but also looks to have been hindered by the virus, not possessing the same agility as most people exposed to it.

The other new type of infected are referred to as Alphas. The Alphas are massive and strong, towering over every character, with muscles they use to rip people and animals apart. Spike explains that the Rage virus seemingly acted like steroids in the Alpha infected, giving them their imposing stature. Alphas can also take more damage than most. Standard infected can be taken down with a single well-placed arrow, but Alphas are seen riddled with arrows, often capable of surviving deadly blows, likely due to their Rage virus-induced physique.

The next installment, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, has already been filmed and is due out in January. That sequel will continue Spike’s story, and as seen in 28 Years Later, there are plenty of new horrors to delve into with the drastic changes the world has endured thanks to the Rage virus.