By james art Danny Boyle has not been afraid to eschew convention in filmmaking. His genre-defining zombie apocalypse classic 28 days later not only revolutionized the undead as fast-moving creatures capable of ravaging society, but also marked one of the first times Canon XL-1 digital video cameras were used on location. Continuation of the franchise 23 years after the original with Alex Garlandthe long awaited 28 years later wrapped production in the summer and similarly used unconventional shooting methods.
After the shoot, reports surfaced that the team used the iPhone 15 Pro Max instead of traditional cameras. During an interview with Collider’s Steve Weintraub for Conclaveone of the stars in the sequel, Ralph Fienneswas able to confirm that the upcoming blockbuster uses Apple technology.
When asked how the film was shot with smartphones, Fiennes laughed and said, “Yes, an iPhone attached to the back of huge lenses!Footage from the set earlier this year teased the unusual setup, showing the lack of a traditional modular system or camera body attached to long lenses. Instead, all that was visible was a protective cage that held the phone in place while Boyle and company It’s worth noting that the iPhone was just one tool in their arsenal, and it was heavily modified with attachments, but it’s a unique choice for a film that boasts a budget of around $75 million.
iPhones have previously been used in smaller arthouse projects such as Steven Soderberghis Unreasonable and Sean Bakeris Tangerine. 28 days laterhowever, it will easily be the biggest production to date to use them, almost a full-on moment for the team after they put the XL-1 camcorders to work for the original.
The sequel brings back much of the team that helped create it 28 days laterwith Boyle and Garland joined by the returning cameraman Anthony Dodd Mantle. Boyle’s Best Cinematography Oscar winner The poor millionaireMantle contributed to the introduction of the iPhone in 28 years later it will probably show the time gap between the new film and its predecessor. The use of video cameras created a rougher texture that emphasized the dark world of 28 days laterwhile the new method will offer its own unique flair when it hits screens next year. It’s at least a demonstration of the team’s willingness to experiment and make the sequel something related but different from the two films before it.
Who else is on 28 Years Later?
28 years later will be the third installment in the franchise since 2007 Jeremy Renner– guided tracking 28 weeks later. It’s also set to kick off a new trilogy written entirely by Garland, which we’ll see Candyman Helmer Nia DaCosta take on directing duties for the middle feature. Fiennes will be one of three new leads joining the first film Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jody Comer. So you don’t miss out, Cillian MurphyJim will also return for the first time since the hopeful ending of the 2002 film, although he has grown considerably from the courier who woke up to a catastrophic viral outbreak. Also confirmed for a star are Erin Kelliman and Jack O’Connell. Character and plot details are being kept close to the vest, but we’ll likely learn more closer to the film’s release.
28 years later is scheduled to arrive on June 20, 2025. Stay tuned here at Collider for more information on the film when it comes out. Meanwhile, tickets are now on sale for Conclave ahead of its theatrical release this Friday, October 25. Stay tuned for more from our interview with Fiennes soon.
- Date of issue
- June 20, 2025
Get tickets