Brand new zombie horror film set in UK is 'inspired by real event' says script writer

A follow-up to the zombie horror cult classic 28 Days Later is on the horizon and will be set in the UK, with writer Alex Garland admitting the sequel is inspired by real events

An upcoming zombie horror film set in the UK has been "inspired by" a real event, according to its writer.

The long-awaited follow-up to Danny Boyle's hit film 28 Days Later will be released later this year. Now, its writer, Alex Garland, has confirmed recent political events influenced the film.

Fans initially suspected coronavirus may have inspired 28 Years Later, but Garland, who has previously directed Civil War and Ex Machina, denied the upcoming horror film was inspired by global lockdowns.

Instead, Garland turned to Brexit for inspiration and says much of the film has been inspired by the decision to leave the EU, made by British voters back in 2016. Fans are split on what this may mean for the upcoming horror, which is set to be the first in a trio of new films.

As the name might suggest, the film will pick up 28 years after the events of the Cillian Murphy-led original. Writer Garland says Covid was "too recent and too present" to have affected the film's script.

Fans are split on the decision to use the vote as a source of inspiration. One person on X wrote: "The abandonment of the UK following Brexit served as the inspiration behind the latest British zombie apocalypse film, a writer has revealed.

"Alex Garland, the co-creator of the upcoming horror movie, 28 Years Later, alongside Danny Boyle, the director, said he was influenced to write the script after the rest of the world seemed to 'turn their backs' on Britain.

"The referendum that led to Britain’s exit from the EU in 2016 served as a greater inspiration for the film’s apocalyptic material than Covid did."

Garland, who spoke to Empire about the script and its influences, said: "Covid was not on my mind because it was too recent and too present, but Brexit was." He added that there was a "sense of the globe just sort of shifting its position" and "not really looking in this direction."

Other movie-lovers have claimed the comparisons of Brexit and 28 Years Later, a film set 28 years after the breakout of a 'Rage' virus and a country-wide pandemic, is hilarious.

One wrote: "28 Years Later is influenced by Brexit, and everyone turning against the UK???! Oh, I'm so ready for this film."

28 Years Later, which is set for release on June 20 this year, follows on from the cult classic horror film directed by Danny Boyle. The Trainspotting and Slumdog Millionaire director will return for 28 Years Later. The Academy Award winner serves as the film's director and producer.