Screenwriter and filmmaker Alex Garland shared fascinating insights into the creation of the agile zombies in the cult classic 28 Days Later and its sequels during a recent interview. Garland, who is the creative mind behind the screenplay of 28 Days Later as well as its highly anticipated sequels, 28 Years Later and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, discussed how the iconic film series has been shaped by the popular Resident Evil video game franchise.

Alex Garland Reveals the Inspiration Behind the Quick Zombies in 28 Days Later from Resident Evil

In a recent interview with GQ, Garland explored his career as a screenwriter and filmmaker, with a special focus on his groundbreaking work in 28 Days Later. This film marked Garland’s debut as a screenwriter and set the stage for his future projects. He highlighted the innovative concept of “quick zombies” in the film, which were influenced by the swift and agile dogs from the Resident Evil game series, illustrating the blend of gaming and cinematic storytelling.

During the interview, Garland reminisced about a trip to a country facing “very intense kind of hardships,” which left a lasting impression on him. Upon his return to England, he felt a profound sense of “frustration” with the nation’s “complacency” and sought to convey the gravity of those hardships through his screenplay. He articulated how the themes of survival and fear in Resident Evil played a pivotal role in shaping his vision for 28 Days Later.

“Before I started writing 28 Days Later, I was playing a game on the PlayStation called Resident Evil,” Garland recounted. He expressed how the game rekindled his passion for zombie movies and how it had been a significant time since a genuinely frightening one had been released. While engaging in the game, he observed that the traditional portrayal of zombies as slow-moving creatures diminished their horror, allowing players to easily evade or defeat them with minimal effort.

Garland elaborated, “However, there was an element in the game that truly terrified me—the dogs. They moved incredibly fast.” He shared that the quick movements of these dogs often startled him, which ultimately inspired his vision for a zombie film where the zombies would also exhibit rapid movement. This creative twist added a new layer of tension and fear to the genre, setting 28 Days Later apart from its predecessors.

Fans of the franchise can look forward to the premiere of 28 Years Later on June 20, 2025, followed by the release of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple in 2026. These upcoming films promise to continue the thrilling and thought-provoking narrative established in the original film.