Since the 1980s, home video equipment has become progressively more high quality and accessible with each passing year. But it seems Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle has completely abandoned traditional camera rigs for his upcoming film, “28 Years Later.” It is the third installment of his horror franchise that kicked off with 2002 “28 Days Later,” followed by 2007 “28 Weeks Later.”
The movie was shot over the summer with several adapted iPhone 15s. With its $75 million budget, this is the biggest movie to date filmed with smartphones.
For “28 Years Later,” Boyle teamed up with Oscar-winning cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle. The duo previously worked together on “28 Days Later,” 2009’s “Slumdog Millionaire,” 2010’s “127 Hours,” 2013’s “Trance,” and 2017’s “T2 Trainspotting.”
This isn’t even their first time shooting a film with a less traditional camera. “28 Days Later” was filmed with a Canon XL-1, a prosumer camcorder with interchangeable lenses, that writes data to MiniDV (digital video) tapes. Retailing for $4,000, at the time, put it well within many smaller filmmakers budgets.
Filming “28 Years Later”
“28 Years Later” wrapped filming in August but the production was still kept under wraps until recently. Cast and crew were asked to sign nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) to prevent how it was shot being leaked.
However, a paparazzi did sneak one photo from the set in July. It showed a long lens attached to a protective cage holding what looked like an iPhone. This leaked image sparked rumors online that the film may be, at least partially, shot with camera phones. Several people connected with the film have confirmed that smartphones were the principal camera system used on set.
It seems that production started too early for Boyle and Mantle to get iPhone 16s. So iPhone 15 Pro Maxs were used instead. The cages used to adapt the smartphone attach to lenses that project the image from the DSLR lens onto the surface of its screen, and the smartphone records the projection.
“28 Years Later” also achieved certain shots by strapping action cameras to farm animals. Which we are more than a little curious to see the results of.
Boyle’s upcoming zombie feature will star Jodie Comer (“Killing Eve”), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (“Kraven The Hunter”), and Ralph Fiennes (“The Menu,” “The Return”), with Oscar winner Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer”), who starred in the first film, returning. Plot details are still under wraps and it’s unclear if he will be reprising his role or playing someone new.
“28 Years Later” is currently dated for a June 2025 release. We’ll keep you posted on updates as they become available.
