A report by Wired indicates that Danny Boyle’s upcoming zombie sequel, 28 Years Later, was filmed using multiple iPhone 15 Pro Max smartphones, making it the most prominent movie to be produced with iPhones, given its budget of approximately $75 million.
However, several significant points need clarification. Firstly, the sourcing for this information is anonymous due to non-disclosure agreements signed by the film’s staff. Additionally, not all of the movie was filmed using the iPhone 15 Pro Max; various cameras were employed in the production process, confirmed by Engadget. The iPhones were adapted to work with full-frame DSLR lenses, which are notably expensive, and were encased in protective cages, highlighting the sophisticated setup required.
This approach marks a noteworthy return to simpler filming methods for Boyle and his team, reminiscent of the original 28 Days Later, which was predominantly shot with a $4,000 prosumer-grade camcorder that used MiniDV tapes.
28 Years Later is the third installment in the franchise and is slated for a June 2025 release. The film will feature performances by Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes, and Cillian Murphy. This production will be the first in a new trilogy set within the universe of fast-moving rage zombies. Although specific plot details have not been disclosed, all three forthcoming movies are penned by Alex Garland. Garland, who co-wrote the original film, has since directed notable works such as Ex Machina and Annihilation and the recent film Civil War. He is also known for the underrated TV series Devs.
The use of smartphones in Hollywood has been gradually increasing, with notable examples including Sean Baker’s Tangerine and Steven Soderbergh’s Unsane.
