Ahead of the release of 28 Years Later, fans have been non-stop theorising over what might or might not have happened in the 25 years and eight months since the last film in the franchise.
Whether it be theories based on the trailers themselves or the secret website, which fans found based on a cypher hidden in the second teaser, fans have not stopped trying to figure out what is set to happen in the upcoming sequel.
Now, however, a major fan theory that has existed for well over a decade has been confirmed by newly released footage.
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The new 28 Years Later footage comes courtesy of previews released as part of 28 Days Later returning to cinemas.
In a one-day event, the 2002 Danny Boyle classic came back to cinemas, and accompanying it was a five plus minute set of footage from 28 Years Later.
In the footage, which has been viewed by LADbible, you see Aaron Taylor-Johnson with a vaguely north-east accent, tense scenes of zombie horror goodness, and an opening message which confirms the fan theory.
The message that opened the footage stated: “The Rage Virus laid waste to the UK. It was driven back from continental Europe.
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“The British mainland was quarantined to contain the virus. Survivors were left to fend for themselves.”
The message both confirms the major long-held fan theory that 28 Years Later would confirm that the Rage Virus continues to only remain in the United Kingdom.
This is the state of affairs in 28 Weeks Later, where NATO forces take control of London more than two years after the outbreak.
Many questioned if this would continue in 28 Years Later, however, with the end to 28 Weeks Later showing zombies having somehow made it to Paris.
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Not everyone was convinced this would be kept canon, however, as returning writer director duo Alex Garland and Danny Boyle had no involvement in the Jeremy Renner led 28 Weeks Later.
Fans, however, believe that the message seems to not only confirm the fan theory that things are confined to just Britain, but that 28 Weeks Later would still in the process be made canon.
One comment on a thread discussing the footage said: “It was driven back from mainland Europe’ Well, there we have it. 28 Weeks is canon.”
Another replied, saying: “It always was, just ignore people who say it's not. Just because you don't like a part of a franchise doesn't mean it's not part of the world.”
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Despite the trailers keeping plot details fairly under wraps, the new footage continues to build a footage of what the film will focus on.
A previous release by Sony on the fan-found secret website RageLeaks showed Instagram posts referencing Swedish soldiers who had gone missing, seemingly confirming that the world at large operates seemingly as normal.
Regardless, hype continues to grow for 28 Years Later as we now lie less than a month away.
28 Years Later releases June 20.
Topics: 28 Years Later, Horror, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, TV and Film, Film
Michael Slavin