Danny Boyle used 20 iPhones to film 28 Years Later action scenes

Director Danny Boyle has returned to the world of zombies with 28 Years Later, the latest instalment in the much-loved franchise that began with 28 Days Later back in 2002. But this time, it's not just the story that's evolved — it's also how the film was made. Boyle revealed that he used as many as 20 iPhones to shoot some of the film's action scenes. The director says the idea came from the need to keep things light and mobile, especially for scenes filmed in remote locations. The result is a gritty, immersive visual style that's as modern as it is raw.advertisementBoyle recently spoke to both Reuters and Mashable about the filmmaking process, highlighting how far mobile camera technology has come — and how useful it can be when used creatively. 'Smartphones, they will now shoot at 4K resolution, which is cinema resolution. So you can use them,' Boyle told Reuters. 'They are incredibly light. You can go somewhere with a very light footprint and you can also build special rigs with them, which is what we did for some of the violent action in the movie.'These specially designed rigs included 20 iPhone 15 Pro Max devices arranged to shoot 'bullet time' style sequences — also known as the Matrix effect or time-slice, a filming technique that lets you freeze and spin around fast-moving scenes. Shooting in this style gives the film a dynamic edge without the need for massive camera setups or complicated logistics. According to Boyle, this approach made it easier to shoot in challenging environments while maintaining cinematic quality. 'They allowed us to visit places, remote places in the UK, with a very light footprint,' he told Mashable.advertisement
Actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who stars in the film alongside Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes and Alfie Williams, said the method added an intense layer to the production. 'It would make me feel a bit vulnerable at times because it's very invasive,' he said, describing how the iPhone rigs created an up-close, visceral feel during filming.28 Years Later picks up long after the events of the original films, with a story centred around a boy and his father leaving an island community to face the undead on the mainland. The film, written by Alex Garland — who also penned the original — marks the start of a new trilogy, with the second part, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, expected to be released in January.

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Director Danny Boyle has returned to the world of zombies with 28 Years Later, the latest instalment in the much-loved franchise that began with 28 Days Later back in 2002. But this time, it's not just the story that's evolved — it's also how the film was made. Boyle revealed that he used as many as 20 iPhones to shoot some of the film's action scenes. The director says the idea came from the need to keep things light and mobile, especially for scenes filmed in remote locations. The result is a gritty, immersive visual style that's as modern as it is recently spoke to both Reuters and Mashable about the filmmaking process, highlighting how far mobile camera technology has come — and how useful it can be when used creatively. 'Smartphones, they will now shoot at 4K resolution, which is cinema resolution. So you can use them,' Boyle told Reuters. 'They are incredibly light. You can go somewhere with a very light footprint and you can also build special rigs with them, which is what we did for some of the violent action in the movie.'These specially designed rigs included 20 iPhone 15 Pro Max devices arranged to shoot 'bullet time' style sequences — also known as the Matrix effect or time-slice, a filming technique that lets you freeze and spin around fast-moving scenes. Shooting in this style gives the film a dynamic edge without the need for massive camera setups or complicated logistics. According to Boyle, this approach made it easier to shoot in challenging environments while maintaining cinematic quality. 'They allowed us to visit places, remote places in the UK, with a very light footprint,' he told Actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who stars in the film alongside Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes and Alfie Williams, said the method added an intense layer to the production. 'It would make me feel a bit vulnerable at times because it's very invasive,' he said, describing how the iPhone rigs created an up-close, visceral feel during filming.28 Years Later picks up long after the events of the original films, with a story centred around a boy and his father leaving an island community to face the undead on the mainland. The film, written by Alex Garland — who also penned the original — marks the start of a new trilogy, with the second part, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, expected to be released in January.