Why is there a poem in the 28 Years Later trailer, and what does it mean?

The official title slate from the trailer for 28 Years Later (via Sony Pictures / YouTube)
The official title slate from the trailer for 28 Years Later (Image via YouTube/@SonyPictures)

The trailer for the film 28 Years Later was released on December 10, 2024, giving fans an intriguing look into the third installment of the 28 Days Later franchise. The movie is slated for release on June 20, 2025. It shall revolve around the aftermath of the RAGE virus outbreaks, and how the world has changed three decades after the franchise-altering event.

Many fans were intrigued by the poem narrated in the background of the trailer, which added a mysterious layer to the first look at the film. The poem is a recitation of writer Rudyard Kipling's Boots and has been used as the background score for the trailer. The piece depicts the misery and dark thoughts of soldiers forced to march through tough conditions during a war.

It might also reflect the plot of the film, giving audiences a clue about what is to come. Jim, Hannah, and Selena are the main characters who are forced to survive while seeing humans around them die from the after-effects of the virus outbreak. The poem might be a window into their minds, as they wade through this quagmire of despair and helplessness.


How does Rudyard Kipling's poem connect to the 28 Years Later trailer?

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The trailer for 28 Years Later features Rudyard Kipling's Boots as an eerie narration juxtaposed with the film's visuals. The piece was originally published in the author's compilation The Five Nations. It revolved around the British Army infantry soldiers, marching through South Africa during the Second Boer War. The poem reveals the dark thoughts of the soldiers, with the poignant line repeated over and over:

There's no discharge in the war!

The poem, with this particular phrase, highlights the monotony and struggle felt by the marching soldiers, and their helplessness at not being able to escape the war and the unsightly duty thrust upon them. This theme also relates to the characters in 28 Years Later, making the trailer more intense.

A still of actor Aaron Taylor Johnson in the trailer for the film (Image via YouTube/@SonyPictures)
A still of actor Aaron Taylor Johnson in the trailer for the film (Image via YouTube/@SonyPictures)

The film's characters, including Jim, Hannah, and Selena, are also akin to the soldiers, experiencing despair and hopelessness. In the previous and upcoming installments of the story, they face endless suffering with no hope of liberation. Even three decades after the original virus outbreak, humanity is still reeling from its effects, with the trailer of 28 Years Later confirming their fight for survival.

Boots might also be a clue about the totalitarian powers holding the citizens captive in their miserable state. The soldiers in Kipling's piece are not drafted into the army of their free will but are forced to march along and do their leaders' bidding for a cause.

Similarly, the dystopian world in 28 Years Later forces the citizens to bear the brunt of the disease, like soldiers, with the higher-ups giving them no respite even after thirty years.

Also Read: 28 Years Later: Cillian Murphy takes exec producer role for franchise that he was once a part of


Audiences will be able to watch 28 Years Later in theatres worldwide from June 20, 2025.

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Edited by Janhavi Chauhan
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