Empire’s World-Exclusive 28 Years Later Covers Revealed

It’s been decades now since Danny Boyle and Alex Garland first went viral. Back in 2002, the acclaimed filmmaker and then-novelist teamed up on a true horror game-changer – rewriting the foundations of the zombie genre in 28 Days Later, with its fast-running rage-infected (not-actually-zombie) hordes. Now, 18 years on from sequel 28 Weeks Later (made without Boyle and Garland), the original creators are returning with 28 Years Later – the beginning of an epic new era in the apocalyptic flesh-eating saga, with all-new characters, a fresh world to explore, and narratively-ambitious plans spanning three films. The rage has only just begun.

The new issue of Empire takes a world-exclusive deep dive into Boyle and Garland’s explosive horror comeback, getting up close and personal with the filmmakers and stars – including Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes – teasing the ways in which the rage-virus has evolved in the intervening 28 years; unveiling the new characters and their world; revealing the thematic preoccupations underpinning Garland’s screenplay; explaining what’s up with Cillian Murphy; and much more. Plus it’s packed with never-before-seen images, giving you the first proper look at what Boyle and Garland have in store. It’s full-blooded access to one of 2025’s most exciting films, ready to sweep the nation this summer.

The newsstand cover brings one of the flesh-hungry infected front and centre – and for complete avoidance of doubt: no, it still isn’t Cillian Murphy.

And this month’s subscriber cover is a haunting, deathly illustration of the infected, created exclusively for Empire by Peter Strain.

All that, plus this issue features a major new exclusive on Avatar: Fire And Ash, with James Cameron himself teasing the upcoming threequel; a look at the new team line-up in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning; a major new interview with the one and only Ke Huy Quan as he finally steps up as a leading man; the Russo Brothers on The Electric State and their upcoming return to the MCU; Pamela Anderson on her astonishing turn in The Last Showgirl; and plenty more besides.

Make like the infected and run to your local newsstand to pick up the 28 Years Later issue on Thursday 16 January. Or, pre-order a copy online here. 28 Years Later comes to UK cinemas on 20 June.