Filming planned for Cheddar Gorge as Danny Boyle's 28 Years Later comes to Somerset

Hollywood is coming to Cheddar Gorge next month as production crews take over the stunning beauty spot. Director Danny Boyle confirmed development on the horror sequel to his cult classic 28 Days Later started in January, with filming to take place throughout 2024.

The beloved British director, who also directed Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire and 127 Hours, is understood to have chosen the iconic limestone cliffs of Cheddar Gorge for his latest movie. The new film will take place 28 years after the events of the 2002 film, which starred Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson and Naomie Harris.

According to a planning notice by Somerset Council, The Cliffs will be closed for five days between July 22 and 26 for the filming to take place. The closure will run 24/7 during this period and motorists will be forced to follow a 21.5-mile diversion route to enter or leave Cheddar.

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Production crews will also use laybys and parking bays along The Cliffs route. All attractions and shops within the village, including the popular Cheddar Gorge and Caves, will also be open throughout the filming.

It is understood that Boyle’s production company, 28 Years Later Limited, has paid Somerset Council for the filming and closure of the Gorge. Boyle’s firm even kept one of the village’s public toilets open. The Sun reported that three toilets were earmarked for closure due to cost-saving measures, but the production has ensured Dagd Hole toilet block will remain open until September.

Derek Bradley-Balmer, chairman of Cheddar Parish Council told The Sun: “We understand the frustrations from businesses and tourists about the lack of toilets.

“The good news is the Dagd Hole toilet block up the gorge will remain open until September. There is a film production company that wants to film around Cheddar Gorge and have offered a compensation payment to pay for our toilets.

“We can’t guarantee this, but they are in discussion with Somerset Council. However, this is not a long-term solution and we are looking at ways to solve this.”

With production underway on 28 Years Later, the current cast includes the returning Cillian Murphy, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer Ralph, Fiennes, Jack O'Connell and Erin Kellyman.

Some traders in the area are thrilled with the looming filming, but one businessman did express concern that the filming is taking place during the first week of the summer holidays. Hotels in the area are also said to be fully booked throughout the filming, in what could provide an economic and tourist boom for the scenic village and gorge.

The landlord of The King's Head said: “I have no problems with it”. When asked if the filming could lure in new tourists to the village, he quipped: “Well it depends if they say in the film it’s Cheddar!

“If there’s a ‘Welcome to Cheddar’ sign they go past, tourists will come! If not, they probably won’t.”

Somerset Council has assisted the production which forms part of their Screen Somerset project to attract film and TV crews to film across the county. Their plans aim to produce investment and attract tourism in the long-term and support filming however they can.

Cheddar Gorge has been featured by Screen Somerset which described the gorge as offering “stunning landscape and views of the gorge and surrounding countryside.”

Over the years, Cheddar Gorge has been featured in Nicholas Hoult's flick Jack The Giant Slayer and Richard Bazley’s film Confines. The gorge’s caves also inspired the glittering caves of Aglarond situated in the White Mountains behind Helm's Deep in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Two Towers.