As excitement builds ahead of the global premiere of Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later, Sony gave CineEurope attendees in Barcelona an exclusive look at the film’s opening 28 minutes. Introduced via a video message from Boyle himself, the footage marked the start of what the acclaimed director described as a “new journey” and “the beginning of something big.”
The film, which continues the iconic zombie saga launched with 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later, has already made waves online. Its teaser trailer, released in December, racked up 60.2 million views in its first 24 hours, becoming the third most-watched horror trailer of all time. In terms of box office buzz, it also became the top horror pre-seller of 2024 in the U.S. on its first day of ticket sales.
Sequel Confirmed: 28 Years Later – The Bone Temple Set for 2026
Sony confirmed that the second installment in the newly revamped trilogy, titled 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, will be released in North America on January 16, 2026.
Sony’s Broader Slate: Star Power and Diverse Genres
The CineEurope event also highlighted several other highly anticipated films, with Sony Pictures executives emphasizing renewed confidence in theatrical entertainment. Steven O’Dell, President of International Marketing and Distribution, urged exhibitors to modernize the moviegoing experience, adding:
“Our job is to create compelling content and market the heck out of it… while it’s your job to make cinema an experience audiences crave weekly.”
Among the standout presentations:
-
Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing – Two scenes from this gritty crime thriller starring Austin Butler were revealed. Aronofsky, speaking from New York, described it as a “romp, caper, adventure” set in a pre-9/11 East Village.
See More :-
-
Sam Mendes’ Beatles Anthology – Mendes teased his ambitious four-film project centered on The Beatles, calling it an “entirely unique event” arriving in April 2028.
-
Scarlett Johansson’s Eleanor the Great – In a heartfelt message, Johansson described her directorial debut as “etched in my DNA.” Sony is handling international distribution, with a release date still to be announced.
Genre Films, Anime Powerhouses, and International Flavor
Additional previews included:
-
I Know What You Did Last Summer – A new trailer and scene were shown from the updated horror title arriving July 2024.
-
Anaconda (Holiday Edition) – A Christmas-themed thriller starring Paul Rudd and Jack Black was teased in a sizzle reel.
On the anime front, Sony spotlighted three major titles via Crunchyroll:
-
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle (U.S. release: September 12)
-
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc (International rollout: September 24, U.S. release: October 29)
-
Scarlet – A fantasy tale of a princess transcending time and space (U.S. release: December 12)
Local-Language Gems and Regional Franchises
Sony also celebrated its investments in local-language productions, previewing:
-
Forced Vacation (France)
-
Sisu 2 (Finland), arriving in the U.S. on November 21
-
Padre No Hay Mas Que Uno 5 (Spain), the fifth entry in the hit franchise. Director and star Santiago Segura made a playful video appearance, prompting applause from the Spanish crowd and jokingly declaring his popularity.
As Sony revs up its global marketing machine, CineEurope 2024 made it clear: the studio is betting big on a wide-ranging lineup—from bold horror sequels and auteur dramas to family hits and anime blockbusters. With 28 Years Later poised to dominate the summer horror slate, the next few years are set to be thrilling for film fans worldwide.
