Danny Boyle Says He Will Direct The Next ‘28 Days Later’ Sequel?

There’s been little movement on the28 Days Laterfranchise front of late, but withDanny Boyle’s most recent film,127 Hours, completed and nearing release, that could soon change. From what Boyle has said in the past, we know that28 Months Laterisn’t the official title for the film, itsplanned settingis Russia (not France like one might’ve inferred from the ending of28 Weeks Later), and Boyle feels strongly enough about the idea he’s come up with for the film thathe has considereddirecting it.

As hopeful as many of us were that Boyle would return, the odds of it actually happening appeared rather slim. Even while he was discussing potentially directing the film, there were simultaneous discussions of itbeing handed offto another director (as was done with the second film). If this latest update is to be believed though, Boyle is no longer considering directing the film; heisdirecting it.

Dread Centralreports the news, which has purportedly come from Boyle himself. When asked if he’d be producing the sequel, he replied, “Actually, I want to direct it.” The conversation stems from a third party source though, so I’d suggest waiting for official confirmation before getting too excited.

Here’s what Boyle said back in 2007:

I’ve got an idea for it. I didn’t think I would have, because I didn’t want to do the second one.

It’s to do with Russia actually. It’s to do with that part of the world. NOT FRANCE. The second film hints that it gets to France eventually, and wipes out the French. But this third idea is actually more to do with Russia, but that’s actually all I can say. I don’t know whether it will happen.

Now the question is: When will it happen? Boyle’s next project is going to bea London stage playof Mary Shelley’sFrankenstein, but following that, Boyle stillhas a three-year production dealwith Fox Searchlight and Pathe Pictures (the distributors of28 Days Later), and127 Hourswas only the first of his films under that contract. Because of this, Boyle might have to wait to directMaximum City, an adaptation of the non-fiction bookMaximum City: Bombay Lost and Found, for which he’shired on the screenwriterofSlumdog Millionaire. Boyle’sproposed remakeofMy Fair Lady, meanwhile, is no longer happening. That leaves only the next sequel in the28 Days Latersaga, and Boyle with his schedule wide open.

So, assuming this report is true, it’s very likely that this will be Boyle’s next film. (OK, feel free to get a little excited.)