It’s easy to tell when a long-gestating sequel is successful upon release by looking at the online discussion surrounding it. In the case of Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s28 Years Later, there is plenty of discourse online about the themes of the film,the jarring ending, and, of course, the portrayal of the infected. Boyle’s return to the world created in 28 Days Later included an evolved form of those infected with the rage virus, aptly called “Alphas.” One particularly well-endowed Alpha, nicknamed Samson, has taken the internet by storm, and the actor behind the character has revealed that one crucial moment involving Samson wasn’t even in the script.
In an interview with GQ, Chi Lewis-Parry, who plays Samson in the film, talked about the grueling makeup process, the prosthetic between his legs thatgot all of social media talking, and even the backstory he created for his character. While talking about developing Samson, Parry revealed that the scene on the train in which his character picks up the lifeless body of the dead pregnant infected wasn’t in the script. Instead, that scene was borne out of his collaboration with Boyle, as he told GQ:
“That actual scene, me and Danny discussed on the day. That wasn’t [in the script]. Danny wanted a moment on the train before the carnage happens that broke up the scene, to show there’s more behind the eyes of this infected person, that he isn’t just a head-ripping psychopath. There’s a much broader and deeper connection between him and the other infected. So we came up with that literally on the day.”
The Infected in ‘28 Years Later’ Might Have More Going On Than Viewers Realize
28 Years Laterputs much more of an emphasis on the evolution of the infected, more so than many other recent films in the zombie genre. Alphas are able to coordinate with other infected individuals, having them attack in packs, which makes them much more effective and dangerous. However, more than just adding stakes, the film also uses this evolution to humanize them a bit more, as seen at the moment where Jodie Comer’s character, Isla, helps the infected give birth before Samson picks up the lifeless body of the infected woman, before dropping it in rage.
Danny Boyle Confirms ‘28 Years Later’s Surprise Breakout Star Will Return in Sequel
A massive and popular character from ‘28 Years Later’ will be making their grand return in the sequel.
Lewis-Parry elaborated further, saying, “I think that’s a really important moment on the train, to show the inner workings of this Alpha, and [his] intent. What was his intention before that? His intention was to kill them—or was his intention to retrieve the child? That’s open to interpretation, and I think that’s what’s beautiful about it.” Samson’s pursuit of Spike can be viewed in a different light with the newly added scene, creating a more complex world for the sequel,28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.
The idea of zombies with higher thought functions could make the rest of the trilogy an interesting one, and Danny Boyle has already confirmed that Samson will be returning forThe Bone Temple. All that remains to be seen is whether the infected in the trilogy show any further signs of evolution. Overall, the addition of that brief moment on the train in28 Years Laterserves as the perfect subtle introduction to the idea that these infected are more than meets the eye.
28 Years Later
