Danny Boyle’s zombie-themed sequel 28 Years Later was reportedly shot with an iPhone 15 Pro Max for many scenes. According to Wired, the budget for the production, which is one of the biggest productions ever made using iPhones, is around $75 million.
However, there are some important points about this situation. First of all, the source of the news was kept anonymous because the film crew signed non-disclosure agreements (NDA). Also, the entire movie was not shot solely with the iPhone 15 Pro Max. According to information confirmed by Engadget, Boyle and his team used different types of cameras, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max was just one of these pieces of equipment.
However, it is worth noting that the director did not just place the smartphone on a tripod and shoot. Each of the iPhones used was adapted to be compatible with full-frame DSLR lenses, and these professional lenses are quite expensive. The phones were also placed in protective cages.
Although the entire film wasn’t shot on iPhones, the project was a “full circle” moment for Boyle and his team. The first film in the series, 28 Days Later, was shot on a home-style video camera that cost $4,000 at the time. It recorded on MiniDV tapes.
28 Years Later will be released in June 2025
28 Years Later is the third film in the series, set to be released in June 2025. The film stars Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes, and Cillian Murphy. The film will be the first of three new films set in a universe featuring fast-moving rage zombies. Details about the script are not yet known, but all of the new films are being written by Alex Garland. Garland co-wrote the first film and has directed genre films such as Ex Machina, Annihilation, and most recently Civil War. He is also the creator of the critically acclaimed TV series Devs.
As for the intersection between smartphones and Hollywood, there are other movies shot on iPhones, including Sean Baker’s Tangerine and Steven Soderbergh’s Unsane.