Nia DaCosta’s Bold Inspiration: The Film That Changed Her Path

It’s a bit rough to see 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple struggling at the box office, especially when punters and critics alike seem to rate it. With Nia DaCosta calling the shots, you’d expect a different story. Maybe the timing was off, coming so soon after Danny Boyle’s third entry in the series last year. Or perhaps the muddled film titles left folks thinking they’d already caught it. Whatever the reason, the numbers just haven’t stacked up as hoped.

There’s no shortage of talent behind the scenes. The script comes from Alex Garland, and the cast boasts Jack O’Connell and Ralph Fiennes, both in top form. DaCosta herself is one of the most sought-after directors these days, thanks to her work on Candyman, produced by Jordan Peele, and the 2025 drama Hedda, which scored a Golden Globe nod for Tessa Thompson. She’s shown she can handle just about any genre, from superhero blockbusters like The Marvels in 2023 to more intimate dramas.

DaCosta’s Creative Roots

DaCosta credits a wide range of films for shaping her approach, but one stands out above the rest—a notorious 1979 epic that’s become legendary for its chaotic production. Speaking about Francis Ford Coppola’s Vietnam War saga, she shared,

“I found this in high school by way of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. The sheer fucking audacity of this movie and the people who made it make it one of my all-time favourites and biggest inspiration for becoming a director.”

Coppola’s film is infamous for blowing out its budget and schedule. Martin Sheen suffered a heart attack during filming, Harvey Keitel walked out halfway through, and typhoons tore through the set. At one point, Coppola even wrote to George Lucas, asking for cash after Star Wars became a smash hit. The conditions were so wild that, instead of using props for dead soldiers, a local bloke brought in actual human corpses. The police got involved, and it turned out the man was a grave robber. Authorities removed the bodies, and the production carried on.

Legacy of a Cinematic Gamble

Despite all the setbacks, Apocalypse Now finally hit cinemas two years late, earning back five times its budget and nabbing eight Oscar nominations. It took home two, including Best Cinematography. Coppola later released a redux version in 2001, stretching the runtime to a hefty 202 minutes.

DaCosta, meanwhile, has a knack for writing on nearly every project she directs. She’s currently penning a new TV series, Southern Bastards, about a war veteran heading to Alabama to track down her father, only to stumble into a world of crime. Her versatility keeps her in high demand, and she’s not afraid to take risks, much like her cinematic hero.

The Future of the 28 Years Later Series

As for 28 Years Later, the fate of a final chapter in the trilogy hangs in the balance, depending on how this latest instalment fares in the long run. If it gets the green light, Alex Garland is set to write again, and there’s talk of Danny Boyle returning to direct. Cillian Murphy is rumoured to reprise his role as Jim, which he first played back in 2002’s 28 Days Later, possibly alongside Brendan Gleeson.