28 Years Later’s Heroes Have To Trust Ralph Fiennes’ Creepy Survivor In Exclusive New Image

By Rob Keyes

Published May 9, 2025

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This article is part of ScreenRant's Exclusive 2025 Summer Movie Preview. Keep an eye out for the full feature next week!

A new image from 28 Years Later, which reteams original director Danny Boyle with original screenwriter Alex Garland, follows Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and his 12-year-old son Spike (Alfie Williams) exploring the world outside of their isolated tidal island home of Lindisfarne, Northumberland and finding countless untold horrors on the mainland.

ScreenRant can now share an exclusive first-look image from 28 Years Later ahead of the movie's theatrical premiere on June 20. The image shows Spike, his mother Isla (Jodie Comer), and his newborn sister being guided across a river by hardscrabble survivor Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes). The image is fraught with tension, as the group is most likely facing threat from the Infected on all sides. Check out the full-size image below:

Ralph Fiennes, Jodie Comer, and Alfie Williams holding onto a rope while walking across a river in 28 Years Later

What This Means For 28 Years Later

Jamie's Family Is Scattered

This image seemingly confirms something that was teased in the 28 Years Later trailer, which is that Isla will emerge from the extreme isolation of Lindisfarne out into the wider world. Although they initially leave without her, it looks like she has left her safe haven behind, potentially either because they have gone missing and she is searching for them or their home has been invaded. Given the hordes of Infected on the mainland, as well as the number of ruthless survivors, this may have occurred for one of several reasons.

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However, the fact that Jamie does not appear in this image could point to the first possibility as the more likely one. It could be the case that Aaron Taylor-Johnson's character dies early on in the movie, leaving his wife and son to find one another without his help. However it happens, it appears as though Isla will the remainder of the 28 Years Later cast out in the open. That ensemble also includes characters played by Jack O'Connell, Edvin Ryding, Chi Lewis-Parry, Emma Laird, and Erin Kellyman.

Our Take On The New 28 Years Later Image

The Movie Promises A Terrifying New Adventure

Two people pressed against a surface with bright fire behind them in 28 Years Later

Regardless of who lives or dies in 28 Years Later, the sheer amount of tension in the first-look image, which does not even feature the Infected onscreen, promises that the anticipated 2025 summer movie has the opportunity to be just as terrifying as the previous installments in the horror franchise. This could be enhanced by the decorated cast bringing the story to life, as this shot alone features both a three-time Oscar nominee and an Emmy winner (Fiennes was nominated for Schindler's List, The English Patient, and Conclave, while Comer won for Killing Eve).