MAY 10, 2007—Even though it didn’t deal with the undead, 28 Days Later was extremely influential in reviving the zombie horror subgenre. So it was inevitable that the murderous hordes of director Danny Boyle's 2003 chiller—the victims of a virus known as the rage—would once again overrun the streets of England.

In 28 Weeks Later, the infected are dead and the crisis appears to be over. But just as the U.S. military is beginning the long process of repopulating London, another outbreak of the virus starts to spread among the survivors. The key to a vaccine appears to lie with a young boy, assuming he can make it out of London without being killed by his infected father (Robert Carlyle).

Boyle, whose next film is the upcoming sci-fi epic Sunshine, choose to sit out 28 Weeks Later. Stepping in is Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, the Spanish-born director of the acclaimed thriller Intacto.

Film South Florida spoke with Fresnadillo, during a recent visit to Miami, about making a sequel that stands on its own merits, the ramifications of 28 Days Later star Cillian Murphy's decision not to make a cameo in 28 Weeks Later, and laying the groundwork for a third film in the series.

Film South Florida: Given 28 Days Later’s success, what pressure did you feel making this sequel?

Juan Carlos Fresnadillo: When dealing with a sequel, you have the first movie chasing you. So, to me, it was important when I talked with Danny Boyle to hear these words: “I love Intacto, I need you to make a new movie with a personal vision. We need fresh eyes. London needs to be seen through different eyes.” That was fantastic. That removed the pressure I would feel from the first movie. I love the first one, but I needed to start over. It was a challenge, but the concept of reconstruction, the rebuilding process, is one that is close to my heart.

Film South Florida: So was it a relief when [28 Days Later star] Cillian Murphy turned down an offer to make a cameo in 28 Week Later? His appearance certainly would have brought with some unwanted baggage from 28 Days Later.

Fresnadillo: The producer understood we needed to make our own story, without characters from the first movie or any references to them. The only link is the infection, the rage. Fortunately, from the very beginning, we agreed to start from zero. It made sense to create new characters with the concept of reconstruction.

Film South Florida: You seem to pay as much attention to developing the characters as you do in advancing the action.

Fresnadillo: The relationships are the heart of the story. I always believe that an apocalyptic thriller needs characters that are real. Otherwise it is not interesting. I need the audience to feel for the characters under these horrific circumstances.

Film South Florida: Did you intend to draw parallels between the U.S. military’s presence in London in the film and its presence in Iraq?

Fresnadillo: The intention with the military was to follow a real procedure. We did a lot of research to see what would happen in a situation like this. We show in the movie a true reconstruction. But when you’re trying to control a situation like this…. I can understand why the general’s plan is to destroy everything, which might be too much, and why a sniper would abandon his position to help people survive this destruction. Every human reacts in a different way regardless of whether they are a soldier. I want to give this a human face more than make a political argument. You see Robert Carlyle abandon his wife [when she’s cornered by the infected]. I love to put people in difficult situations and force them to take a position in a split second. These are decisions that affect the whole world. It’s scary and it’s real. So I can understand why people connect the events in the movie to what’s happening in the world at this time. When you bring a sense of reality to a movie like this, it becomes a mirroring to what’s really going on. But I also hope it’s an entertaining movie that people enjoy.

Film South Florida: 28 Days Later ended optimistically. 28 Weeks Later ends pessimistically. Was this done intentionally to make way for a third film?

Fresnadillo: When we shopped it around, we did not think about [the possibility] of making a third part. We’re tracking the concept of people out of control, the isolation of human beings, preservation. That’s why the ending makes sense. I understand that people will find it a link for the next chapter. If they decide to make another one, that means the movie worked.

Film South Florida: Would you like to be involved?

Fresnadillo: I wouldn’t participate in another movie. Much in the same way that Danny was generous to let me direct [28 Weeks Later], I should do the same way and let someone else direct.