28 Years Later writer Alex Garland addressed the canonicity of 2007’s 28 Weeks Later within the wider 28 Days Later universe in an interview from several months ago. However, since the film is releasing soon, fans want to know for certain if that film is canon to the overarching story. Notably, the 2007 film featured a completely different cast and direction/writing team from the original. However, Garland and Danny Boyle, who helmed both 28 Days and 28 Years Later, served as executive producers on that film.
So, are the events of 28 Weeks Later canon to 28 Days and 28 Years Later? Here’s what we know.
Is 28 Weeks Later canon to 28 Days Later and 28 Years Later?
In a January 2025 Empire Magazine interview, Alex Garland stated that the story of 28 Years Later was “not in conflict” with that of 28 Weeks Later. However, he noted that the word “canon” didn’t reflect director Danny Boyle’s work.
Adding to Garland’s comments, Boyle stated, “It’s not mapped out like a scientific formula,” (via Screenrant).
Also in the interview, Garland explained that Brexit served as inspiration for 28 Years Later’s story. He compared the landmark event of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union to the film’s story of the rest of the world turning their backs on the UK, following the emergence of the rage virus transforming people into zombies.
The ending of 28 Weeks Later confused its canonical place in the 28 Days Later universe. In 28 Days Later, the virus first broke out in the UK, where authorities managed to contain it. However, 28 Weeks Later’s ending showed the virus spreading on a global scale. A vision of swarms of infected rampaging across Paris revealed this. 28 Years Later shifted things again by refocusing the virus in the UK.
28 Weeks Later can currently be streamed on Hulu. Meanwhile, 28 Years Later runs into theaters across the United States on June 20, 2025.
Jodie Comer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson headline 28 Years Later. Ralph Fiennes, Alfie Williams, Kim Allan, Sandy Batchelor, Christopher Fulford, Geoffrey Newland, and Joe Blakemore make up the supporting cast.
As of writing, the film has a 94% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes.
