28 Days Later: Danny Boyle reveals 'wonderful' idea for third film

Exclusive: Filmmaker says hopes for long-rumoured sequel are still alive

Danny Boyle has revealed he's working on a follow-up to 28 Days Later.

The director told The Independent that a third film is in the works with Ex Machina filmmaker Alex Garland, who wrote the 2002 original.

"Alex Garland and I have a wonderful idea for the third part," he said. "It's properly good."

He continued: "The original film led to a bit of a resurgence in the zombie drama and it doesn't reference any of that. It doesn't feel stale at all. He's concentrating on directing his own work at the moment, so it's stood in abeyance really, but it's a you-never-know."

Sequel 28 Weeks Later, directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, was released in 2007.

Boyle, who was promoting new film Yesterday, also revealed he would pick Robert Pattinson to play James Bond if he was given the choice.

The director was set to direct Bond 25 before dropping out due to "creative differences." Speaking about the decision, he said: "It wasn't hard at the end really. I have this relationship with my writer that’s quite intense, passionate and loyal and I would not change him – precisely because I really liked what he was doing. Our idea was good, but they didn’t think so.”

Yesterday is in cinemas on 28 June. You can read our full interview with Boyle here.