Aaron Taylor-Johnson and wife swoon over each other at 28 Years Later premiere

Actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson and his director wife Sam Taylor-Johnson looked as loved up as ever 13 years later from their wedding at the 28 Years Later film premiere
Aaron Taylor-Johnson and director wife Sam Taylor-Johnson had their arms around each other as they attended the glitzy world premiere of new zombie sequel 28 Years Later. The horror is the third film in Danny Boyle's post-apocalyptic series - with 35-year-old Aaron taking a leading role in the threequel.
He is playing a character named Jamie, who is a scavenger that is married to Jodie Comer's character Isla. However, the actor only had eyes for his real-life wife as they attended the premiere at London's Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on Wednesday night.
‌
The actor, who is among those said to be in the running to play James Bond, wore a pinstripe waistcoat and trousers along with a dark coloured shirt. He was joined by his 58-year-old wife who looked radiant in a white dress as she joined him on the red carpet.
‌
Aaron and Sam have been married since 2012 and they met on the set of her 2009 film Nowhere Boy - a biopic about John Lennon. Casting of the film began in September 2008 - and Sam and Aaron began dating soon after they wrapping filming the project.
They tied-the-knot in 2012 and became parents together when they welcomed two daughters, born in 2010 and 2012. Aaron is stepfather to two further daughters that Sam shares with her ex-husband, 61-year-old art dealer Jay Jopling.
She looked proud of her husband as he led fellow cast members and director Danny into a screening of the hotly anticipated film sequel. The first in the series, 2002's 28 Days Later, followed Cillian Murphy's character Jim who awakens in hospital to discover the world has fallen to a zombie virus.
A sequel followed in 2007, 27 weeks later, but none of the original stars returned. This new sequel is tipped to be the beginning of a continuing trilogy of films, with Cillian due to return as his character, Jim.
Jodie Comer was also at the premiere on Wednesday night and shimmered in a glamorous, silver, summer gown. With her hair styled in a sleek bob, the Killing Eve star was spotted joking and laughing with her co-stars on the red carpet.
‌
She was mirrored by actress Emma Laird, 28, who plays a character named Jimmima in the new movie. Emma also opted for a shimmering silver dress for the premiere.
And fellow stars Alfie Williams and Ralph Fiennes, who are playing characters named Spike and Dr. Ian Kelson respectively. An official synopsis of the new film paints an enticing plot for the new film.
‌
It reveals: "Twenty-eight years after the Rage virus escaped a medical research laboratory, survivors have found ways to exist amidst the infected.
"One group lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily defended causeway. When a father and his son leave the island on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, they discover the secrets, wonders and horrors of the outside world."
Screenwriter Alex Garland, who wrote the first two films in the series, has previously explained that he turned to a classic British film for inspiration while writing the third installment in the 28 franchise.
‌
He told Screenrant last year: 'I ripped off this film called Kes, a very unexpected thing to rip off in a zombie movie. The script I delivered and Kes, both focused on the experience of a young lad and because I am ripping it off, I wanna direct people to the source material."
He added: "It's a very wonderful film, very moving film, and I've stolen from it.'
Kes was a 1969 British coming-of-age drama directed by Ken Loach and based on the novel A Kestrel for a Knave, written by Barry Hines. The story follows a working class teen called Billy who finds and cares for a fledgling kestrel which he trains in the art of falconry.
The tragic story ends, however, with Billy's half-brother killing the bird in a fit of rage - leaving Billy bereft and devastated. There are plans for 28 Years later to lead to two further films, with a sequel titled 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple already set for release in January 2026.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Herald Scotland

26 minutes ago

• The Herald Scotland

When does '28 Years Later' come out in theaters?

The post-apocalyptic film dubbed "28 Years Later" is directed by Academy Award-winning British producer Danny Boyle, known for his work on movies including "The Beach", "Sunshine", and "Slumdog Millionaire." The movie comes after 2007's "28 Weeks Later," and it will be followed by director Nia DaCosta's "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple" set to hit theaters on Jan. 16, 2026. "Obviously, 28 years is quite a compressed amount of time for evolution to really establish itself. But they are evolving just like humans evolve," Boyle previously told USA TODAY. But when does "28 Years Later" come out in theaters? Here's what to know about the upcoming film including its debut date in the U.S., its cast and where to stream the first film before the sequel hits theaters: When does '28 Years Later' come out in theaters? The latest film, "28 Years Later" is scheduled to be released in the U.S. on Friday, June 20. The newest installment in the horror series premiered in Asia and Europe on June 17-19. A' compassionate' side of horror": How the sequel '28 Years Later' shows empathy Where to stream '28 Days Later' ahead of new sequel Horror fans can stream the series' first film, "28 Days Later" on the free (with ads) streaming platform Pluto TV. Dunnnn-dunn... 50 years ago, 'Jaws' scared us senseless. We never got over it. How many '28 Days Later' movies in the series? There are three movies in the "28 Days Later" series. They are: "28 Days Later" "28 Weeks Later" "28 Years Later" '28 Years Later' cast: The film stars the following actors and the character they play: Contributing: Brian Truitt Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund.

Daily Mail​

8 hours ago

• Daily Mail​

28 Days Later: Where are the original cast today?

More than two decades after Danny Boyle and Alex Garland masterminded 28 Days Later, they have at last returned. The much-anticipated 28 Years Later was released in UK cinemas on Friday after being praised by a host of industry critics following early screenings. Dubbed the 'best post-apocalyptic horror-thriller I have ever seen' by The Daily Mail's Brian Viner, Boyle and Garland assembled a star-studded cast for their latest endeavour. Ralph Fiennes puts on a 'scene-stealing' performance as Dr. Kelson while fellow Brit Aaron Taylor-Johnson is 'marvelous' as Jamie, the father of the movie's young protagonist Spike (Alfie Williams). But watching the movie's incredible cast make their debut in Boyle and Garland's franchise brings back memories of a little-known Cillian Murphy waking up alone in a London hospital some 23 years ago in the original 28 Days Later. Long before winning his Oscar, Murphy shot himself to stardom with his performance as bicycle courier Jim in the 2002 blockbuster. It wasn't just Cillian who went on to enjoy huge success following the original movie, with fellow castmembers Naomie Harris and Christopher Ecclestone too becoming stars. But as the franchise returns, what became of the rest of the 28 Days Later cast? MailOnline has all the answers. Cillian Murphy as Jim Cillian Murphy got his breakthrough as the lead in 28 Days Later. He played Jim, a bicycle courier who survived the Rage Virus outbreak while in a coma in hospital - waking up to a decimated London. The role was actually written for Ewan McGregor, but the Scottish actor turned it down, opening the door for Murphy - a relative unknown. Cillian Murphy got his breakthrough as the lead in 28 Days Later. He played Jim, a bicycle courier who survived the Rage Virus outbreak while in a coma in hospital - waking up to a decimated London. The role was actually written for Ewan McGregor, but the Scottish actor turned it down, opening the door for Murphy - a relative unknown. Three years later, Murphy appeared in the first of a hugely successful set of films with director Christopher Nolan as Scarecrow in Batman Begins. Speaking to Josh Horowitz for the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the actor revealed that Nolan was convinced to cast him in the role after watching 28 Days Later. Murphy and Nolan went on to collaborate again a further five times: The Dark Knight (2008), Inception (2010), The Dark Knight Rises (2012), Dunkirk (2017) and Oppenheimer (2023). World War II biopic Oppenheimer landed it's lead a first ever Oscar as Best Actor, in one of seven gongs for the movie at the 2024 Academy Awards. Away from his work with Nolan, Murphy 's star rose astronomically as lead Thomas Shelby in BBC drama Peaky Blinders. Not forgetting his roots, Murphy told The Independent in January 2024 that he would join Boyle's 28 Days Later Sequel 'in a flash' if asked. However, in 28 Weeks Later, Jim's whereabouts are unknown, although it is presumed that he survived and is residing somewhere in Europe. Naomie Harris as Selena Naomie Harris starred as the female lead in 28 Days Later - Selena, another survivor of the Rage Virus. She comes across Jim as he is escaping the infected in London and takes him to a hideout in the London Underground. Like Murphy, Harris was something of an unknown in 2002 and this performance earned her the Black Reel Outstanding Breakthrough Performance Award. In the following years she starred in Pirates Of The Caribbean and James Bond movies Skyfall (2012) and Spectre (2015) before starring in the acclaimed 2016 movie Moonlight. Christopher Eccleston as Major Henry West Christopher Eccleston was comparatively established in 2002, having already starred in Shallow Grave (1994), The Others (2001) and Our Friends In The North (1996). The English actor appears in 28 Days Later as Major Henry West - commander of the military unit which takes the protagonists hostage. Three years after the film's release, Eccleston took up the daunting undertaking of bringing Doctor Who back to British TV screens for the first time in nearly a decade, but in award-winning fashion. David Schneider as unnamed scientist David Schneider made his name as a comedy actor in the 1990s, appearing in shows like The Day Today (1994), Mr Bean (1994) and various Alan Partridge spinoffs alongside Steve Coogan. In 28 Days Later, however, he performed the role of a scientist who worked at the Primate Research Centre where the Rage Virus was developed. A group of animal rights activists captured the scientist when they freed a captive chimpanzee, letting the infection into the wild. Since 2002, Schneider's best-known work has come as a writer, working with acclaimed director Armando Ianucci on The Death Of Stalin (2017). Noah Huntley as Mark British actor and model Noah Huntley was 28 when he appeared in 28 Days Later as Mark - who alongside Selena helped the protagonist seek refuge at the start of the film. Three years later, he appeared as an older Peter Pevensie in The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe. In 2012, he starred alongside Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth in Snow White And The Huntsmen as King Magnus. More recently, he has appeared as Lord Sebastian Alamain in US soap Days Of Our Lives. Brendan Gleeson as Frank Another very successful star of 28 Days Later is Brendan Gleeson, who played Frank - a taxi driver who helped fellow survivors escape the infected. Gleeson had already made strong appearances in Braveheart (1995) and Snapper (1993) before the dystopian horror, but saved his best work for later in his career. Megan Burns as Hanna Megan Burns was only 16 when she played Hannah - Frank's daughter - in 28 Days Later. However, the actress left acting after the movie to go into music under the name Betty Curse, releasing the rock album Here Lies Betty Curse in 2006, but no more. According to her Instagram, Burns is now an 'artist manager'. Ray Panthaki as Private Bedford Ray Panthaki performed a relatively minor role aged 23 in 28 Days Later - as Private Bedford - but has gone on to big things since. In BBC series Boiling Point (2021), featuring Steven Graham as its lead, Panthaki played Freeman - for which he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the British Independent Film Awards. The actor was also executive producer of the show, and he has also directed a handful of short films.

Telegraph

9 hours ago

• Telegraph

Danny Boyle: Slumdog Millionaire was cultural appropriation

Danny Boyle has said his hit film Slumdog Millionaire was cultural appropriation. The British director, who also made the films Trainspotting and 127 Hours, said that he was proud of Slumdog Millionaire, but that 'you wouldn't even contemplate doing something like that today'. The 2008 Oscar-winning movie, which Boyle directed, follows the story of a boy from the slums of Mumbai who is one question away from winning the Hindi version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, before being arrested on suspicion of cheating. It was shot in Mumbai, partly in Hindi, and used a local crew, but the award-winning director said he couldn't make it today. He would instead be 'looking for a young Indian filmmaker' to direct the picture, because his directing of the film was 'cultural appropriation'. He told The Guardian on his press tour for the horror film 28 Years Later: 'That kind of cultural appropriation might be sanctioned at certain times, but at other times it cannot be. It wouldn't even get financed. 'We wouldn't be able to make that now. And that's how it should be. It's time to reflect on all that. We have to look at the cultural baggage we carry and the mark that we've left on the world.' He said it was a 'flawed method' because it was filmed by 'outsiders'. 'At the time it felt radical. We made the decision that only a handful of us would go to Mumbai. 'We'd work with a big Indian crew and try to make a film within the culture. But you're still an outsider. It's still a flawed method. Even if I was involved, I'd be looking for a young Indian filmmaker to shoot it.' The film premiered at the 2008 Telluride Film Festival and won eight Oscars at the 2009 Academy Awards, including those for best picture and best director, as well as several BAFTA awards and Golden Globes. It was also a box office hit, making $378 million worldwide on a reported $15 million budget. Speaking about his directorial choices in the interview, Boyle explained: 'I value the popular audience. I believe in popular entertainment. 'I want to push the boat out, but take the popular audience with me.' Elsewhere, he discussed his direction of Isles of Wonder, the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics that featured Daniel Craig as James Bond and the late Queen Elizabeth II. The film, which was a celebration of British culture, also featured the National Health Service, Shakespeare, the Sex Pistols and Windrush migrants. However, Boyle said his 'biggest regret' was not featuring the BBC in it more, saying if he were to do it again he would 'big up' the 'precious' national broadcaster. He said: 'My biggest regret was that we didn't feature the BBC more. I was stopped from doing it because it was the host broadcaster. 'Every other objection, I told them to go f--- themselves. But that one I accepted and I regret that now, especially given the way that technology is moving. 'The idea that we have a broadcaster that is part of our national identity, but is also trusted around the world and that can't be bought, can't be subsumed into Meta or whatever, feels really precious. 'So yeah, if I was doing it again I'd big up the BBC big time. Everything else I'd do exactly the same.'