Summary

• 28 Years Later is officially in development, with Danny Boyle and Alex Garland returning to work on the highly-anticipated continuation of the classic zombie series.
• One theory proposes to bring back beloved characters from 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later in 28 Years Later, turning it into a massive crossover.
• The potential return of characters like Selena, who was a pharmacist in 28 Days Later, and Andy, who may hold the key to curing the rage virus, adds depth and excitement to the film.

28 Years Later is finally happening, and this theory reveals the best way that the casts of 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later can crossover. Although both of the immensely popular films feature entirely different casts, the characters in 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later have become beloved icons of the zombie genre since the original movies were released. Because of this, there is hope that the casts of the original films may return in 28 Years Later. Luckily, this theory proposes the perfect way to pull this off, turning 28 Years Later into a massive crossover.

28 Years Later is officially in development, with Danny Boyle and Alex Garland returning to work on the highly-anticipated continuation of the classic zombie series. 2002's 28 Days Later followed Cillian Murphy's Jim as he awoke to find himself in a post-apocalyptic London, working with a band of misfits to escape the zombies that have been created by the rage virus. 28 Weeks Later jumps several months into the future, exploring another rage virus outbreak in a quarantined zone in Britain. While 28 Years Later's story isn't known yet, it has tons of potential to bring back these original characters.

Naomie Harris' Selena Was A Pharmacist In 28 Days Later

One of the 28 Days Later characters that is a perfect choice to return in 28 Years Later is Naomie Harris' Selena. In the film, Selena is a wandering survivor who teams up with Frank and his daughter Hannah, with the trio rescuing Jim from a horde of zombies. Selena and Jim work together as a team throughout the film, with 28 Days Later's theatrical ending seeing them unfurl a banner and get the attention of a rescue jet.

This ending implies that Selena is still alive after 28 Days Later, and while she isn't seen in 28 Weeks Later, it is possible she is simply living somewhere else. While there is a chance that Selena could have died in the time gap between 28 Days Later and 28 Years Later, she very well could still be alive, and her status as a pharmacist is the perfect reason to bring her back.

Although it isn't explicitly stated in the original film, it is heavily implied that Selena was a pharmacist before the outbreak, with this skill helping her to survive the rage virus apocalypse. In the film, Selena knows exactly how much sedative Hannah should take, something that an untrained human probably wouldn't know. On top of that, Selena even attempts to help Jim in the hospital in 28 Day Later's alternate ending, further cementing this. Danny Boyle actually confirmed that Selena was a pharmacist in the 28 Days Later DVD commentary, turning this theory into a fact.

28 Weeks Later's Tammy & Andy Can Cure The Rage Virus

Jumping over to the cast of 28 Weeks Later, the sequel actually sets up the perfect reason for Tammy and Andy to return in the film, with the duo potentially being able to cure the rage virus. At the end of 28 Weeks Later, Andy is bitten by his father Don, who has been infected with the rage virus. Despite this, Andy fails to show symptoms of infection, something that hasn't yet been seen in the world of the franchise. This implies that there is something special about Andy, meaning that he and Tammy should return.

Having Andy be immune to the virus teases that his blood may contain a cure, as he is the only known carrier of the virus that doesn't turn into a zombie. However, there doesn't seem to be a medical specialist around who could synthesize a cure from Andy's blood due to the zombie apocalypse. 28 Weeks Later's ending sees the rage virus go international, with a horde of zombies wreaking havoc in Paris. This means that the chances of them finding someone to make the virus are even slimmer, with one major exception.

Theory: Selena's Group Meets Tammy & Andy In 28 Years Later (To Create A Cure)

28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later has set the stage for a rage virus cure to be made, and all it requires is Selena's group to meet Tammy and Andy. Tammy and Andy have the cure to the virus, and Selena's background in pharmacy gives her the knowledge needed to potentially synthesize a vaccine from this cure. This setup is too good of an opportunity to miss, with it being the obvious story to tell in a sequel, which could be why 28 Years Later is happening.

The big obstacle standing in the way of this theory is the time gap, as nearly 28 years have ed since the events of the first two films. Because of this, it is entirely possible that Andy or Selena have died, ruining the chances of a cure being made. Furthermore, it doesn't make sense why it would take so long for the groups to find each other. However, it is entirely possible that a plausible explanation could be given in 28 Years Later, with the film bringing the two groups together while keeping the momentum of its time-based gimmick.

Why 28 Years Later Can't Ignore The Previous Movies' Casts

28 Years Later really can't ignore the previous movies' casts, as that would be a huge misstep. 28 Weeks Later focused on an entirely new cast of characters, ignoring the icons of the original film. While this worked for that film, the short time jump between the two means that this makes sense, with it focusing on different characters in a new location. It will be difficult to pull off this trick again while maintaining goodwill with the audience. While the zombies are fun, the characters are the reason that the 28 Days Later franchise is so beloved.

Ignoring the casts of the previous two movies would also throw away the perfect setup that this theory explains. Simply focusing on the zombie apocalypse decades after the outbreak isn't enough to warrant another sequel, as it'll be hard to find new material to explore after 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later. Bringing the franchise's classic characters back in 28 Years Later, however, would make a sequel entirely warranted, which is why Selena, Tammy, Andy, and more characters should return in the film.