Warning: Contains SPOILERS for 28 Years Later!
28 Years Laterfeatures the birth of a Rage Virus baby, and this new character could completely change the future of the trilogy.28 Years Lateris the first film in the franchise since 2007’s28 Weeks Later, and while it took a long time for the third film to release, it won’t take nearly as long for the next one.
28 Years Lateris the start to a new trilogy, with director and Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland having ambitious plans for the serious.The 2025 film is merely the start to a grand28 Days Latersaga, with the cliffhanger ending of28 Years Latersetting up what is next.
28 Years Later: The Bone Templehas already been filmed, and the second film in the trilogy is set to release on June 03, 2025. The sequel is expected to continue many of the lingering storylines from the 2025 movie, such as the Rage Virus baby that is brought back to the Lindisfarne commune.
28 Years Later’s Uninfected Baby Alters What We Know About The Infected
How Was An Uninfected Baby Born?
In28 Years Later, 12-year-old Spike takes his mother to the mainland of the Unconditional Isolation Zone, which has been overrun by Rage Virus zombies. While on land, the duo encounters all sorts of dangers,showing how much the zombies have evolved in the years since28 Weeks Later.
While there are all kinds of weird zombies seen throughout the film, the most notable one is the pregnant zombie. While on the mainland, Spike and his mother see a Rage Virus zombie that is pregnant, with her nearing birth. She returns later in the film, with the mother interacting with her on board a vehicle.
Isla decides to help the pregnant zombie give birth, with the infected human surprisingly not attacking Isla. She helps the zombie successfully give birth, discovering that it is a completely normal human baby. The baby doesn’t seem to be Infected with the Rage Virus, which is ashocking28 Years Laterreveal.
The fact that Rage Virus zombies can get pregnant is notable, as it is likely that this isn’t the first human baby born in 28 years. The fact that the zombies have sex also humanizes them, showing that they do more than simply kill. It also raises some interesting questions about how the virus transfers.
The Uninfected Baby Is Set Up To Have A Role In The Trilogy’s Remaining Movies
It Could Explain Samson’s Return
Once the human baby is born,the main characters in28 Years Laterdecide to keep the child with them. After Isla dies, Spike takes up the responsibility of protecting the child. He eventually brings it back to the Lindisfarne commune, leaving it at the gate before he runs back to the mainland.
The commune discovers the child, potentially setting up a future storyline in28 Years Later: The Bone Templeand its sequel. It would be odd to never mention the baby again, as the commune would undoubtedly be interested in a baby born from a Rage Virus zombie.
It is theorized that the father of the baby is Samson, the Alpha Rage Virus zombie. As it turns out,Samson will return in28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, meaning that he may want his baby back. Spike leaving the baby at the commune could lead the zombies there, putting his community in danger.
However, it hasn’t been fully confirmed that Samson is the baby’s father. This is an assumption based on the fact that Samson is the leader of the zombie community, but it could be proven wrong in one of the sequels. Either way, the Rage Virus zombies are probably going to want their child back, putting the humans in danger.
28 Years Later’s Baby Could Be A Step Towards Finding A Cure
Continuing A 28 Weeks Later Story
One of the most significant impacts of the introduction of this baby is that it could be a step towards finding a cure. The fact that the baby was born from an infected person but isn’t infected herself is huge, as it could mean that she is immune from the Rage Virus.
Immune people werea concept introduced in28 Weeks Later, with the film featuring several immune carriers of the Rage Virus. While immune people didn’t return in28 Years Later, the birth of this baby could be the way for the series to reintroduce the concept.
It is possible that the commune could use the baby to try and synthesize a cure, hopefully stopping the Rage Virus epidemic. This was the original plan in28 Weeks Later, and while a cure was not successfully made, the28 Years Latertrilogy could feature a successful second attempt.
Unfortunately,28 Years Laterhas already established that no doctors are in the Lindisfarne commune. Thus, the community will need help if they want to create a cure. Dr. Ian Kelson could help with this, but since Spike is no longer in the community, someone else will have to reach out to him.
The Baby May Also Be Key To Exploring 28 Years Later’s Trilogy’s Main Themes
She Helps To Humanize The Zombies
The introduction of this baby character may have an impact on the trilogy’s themes as well as its story. The fact that the Rage Virus zombies have sex at all is an indication that they have other motivators outside of rage. After all, the pregnant zombie willingly accepts help from Isla to protect her child.
The idea that theRage Virus zombies have hierarchies and systems of leadershipalso shows that they are more human than many think. The Rage Virus zombies follow the Alpha, meaning that their societies have developed to be more complex in the years since the second outbreak.
28 Days Laterspent a lot of time showing how humans were the real monsters, and28 Years Laterspent a lot of time showing hown the monsters are really human. These complexities are what make the franchise so great, and the baby’s role in the rest of the28 Years Latertrilogy could continue to flesh out this theme.
