Sony shows first 28 minutes of ‘28 Years Later’ at CineEurope ahead of world premiere

Sony stepped up to bat yesterday (June 16) as the first of the large five US studios to present a slate presentation at the CineEurope trade convention in Barcelona, wrapping its slot by showing the first 28 minutes of 28 Years Later two days ahead of the film’s world premiere in London on June 18. 

The footage was introduced to the assembled cinema operators in a filmed message from director/producer Danny Boyle, who promised that this belated sequel to 28 Days Later (2002) and 28 Weeks Later (2007) was a “new journey” and “something that stands on its own”.

28 Years Later is the first in a modern trilogy of films written by 28 Days Later writer Alex Garland, and continues next year with 28 Years Later: Bone Temple. 

Steven O’Dell, Sony’s president of international marketing and distribution, began the slate presentation with remarks that reflect Hollywood studios’ view that a rising tide lifts all boats. 

“Coming off another powerful weekend at the global box office, I hope everyone is sitting here with a lot more confidence about the present and the future versus the angst we have felt over the last five years,” he said. 

That powerful weekend at the global box office was driven primarily by Universal/DreamWorks’ success with How To Train Your Dragon. 

O’Dell acknowledged the circumstances that have made it “difficult for theatre owners to upgrade cinemas to meet audience expectations, especially for the new generation of moviegoers”, while also stating that “the studios have been challenged to put together the consistent line-ups audiences are accustomed to”. 

“On the movie side, our job is to create compelling content and market the heck out of it, to get people excited to go to a movie. While on the cinema side, it is your challenge to invest in, and modernise, the cinema experience to get people thinking every week about going to the cinema.” 

The need for theatre owners to invest was a theme at CinemaCon in Las Vegas in April, and has already emerged as a large theme at this year’s CineEurope. 

In the spotlight

Sony kicked off its presentation with a filmed message from Paul Rudd and Jack Black, stars of Christmas Day release Anaconda, followed by comic footage of the cast purportedly making the film (which is directed by Tom Gormican).  

O’Dell trumpeted a “big, exciting comedy adventure backed by IP, with a great cast” and “with a Christmas release date, which is when these big, consensus choice films play best”. 

Among films benefiting from a significant spotlight at the presentation was Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing, with a filmed message from the filmmaker plus two scenes and a trailer. The film is set in New York in the 1990s, with Austin Butler’s character unwittingly caught up in a criminal underworld. 

Ivan Valverde, Sony’s senior vice president of international distribution, emphasised Sony’s success in 2024 with female-targeted films such as Anyone But You and It Ends With Us, before introducing Celine Song’s Materialists (A24 in North America and Sony for international); Scarlett Johansson’s Eleanor The Great (which premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival); and Kogonada’s A Big Bold Beautiful Journey.

Song and Johansson both sent filmed messages. Valverde stressed that A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, which stars Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell, was Robbie’s first choice of a film following Barbie – testifying to the quality of the screenplay. 

Mary Kouinoglou, senior vice president, theatrical, EMEA licensees, introduced footage of two horror films: Danny and Michael Philippou’s Bring Her Back (A24 in North America and Sony for international except China and Japan); and reboot/sequel I Know What You Did Last Summer. The latter featured scenes as well as a trailer. 

Ahead of the 28 Years Later footage, Sony wrapped up with spotlights on three major titles for 2027 and 2028: video-game adaptation The Legend Of Zelda (May 2027); trilogy concluder Spider-Man: Beyond The Spider-Verse (June 2027); and The Beatles (April 2028).

The Spider-Verse package included a filmed message from producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller and directors Bob Persichetti and Justin K Thompson. 

Mendes explained his ambitious approach to his four separate Beatles films, which will require large faith from cinema operators when the time comes to release the unprecedented movie binge in April 2028.  

In his introduction, O’Dell talked of the investment opportunity for cinemas: “I am confident that those of you making those bets will see a big pay-off for a long time.” 

These words were echoed by Mendes in his remarks, implicitly suggesting what is being offered in return. “Sony is betting on the future of cinema,” he said. 

Sony’s upcoming slate is below. Credits are not final.  

28 Years Later 
Dir. Danny Boyle
Release date: June 20, 2025 
Columbia Pictures 

I Know What You Did Last Summer 
Dir. Jennifer Kaytin Robinson
Release date: July 18, 2025 
Columbia Pictures

Caught Stealing 
Dir. Darren Aronofsky
Release date: August 29, 2025  
Columbia Pictures