28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Teaser poster
Directed byNia DaCosta
Written byAlex Garland
Produced by
Starring
CinematographySean Bobbitt
Edited byJake Roberts
Music byHildur Guðnadóttir[1]
Production
companies
Distributed bySony Pictures Releasing
Release dates
  • 14 January 2026 (2026-01-14) (United Kingdom)
  • 16 January 2026 (2026-01-16) (United States)
Running time
109 minutes[2]
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
LanguageEnglish

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is an upcoming post-apocalyptic horror film directed by Nia DaCosta and written by Alex Garland. It was shot back-to-back with its predecessor 28 Years Later (2025), and will serve as the fourth installment overall in the 28 Days Later film series. The film stars Ralph Fiennes, Jack O'Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman, and Chi Lewis-Parry.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is scheduled be released by Sony Pictures Releasing in the United Kingdom on 14 January 2026, and in the United States on 16 January 2026. A sequel to The Bone Temple is in development.

Premise

Taking place after the events of the previous film, Spike is inducted into Sir Jimmy Crystal's gang of acrobatic killers in a post-apocalyptic Britain ravaged by the Rage Virus. Meanwhile, Dr Ian Kelson forms a new relationship with potentially world changing consequences.[3]

Cast

Ralph Fiennes, Jack O'Connell, and Alfie Williams return from 28 Years Later.
  • Ralph Fiennes as Dr Ian Kelson, a former GP dedicated to memorialising the victims of the epidemic.
  • Jack O'Connell as Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal, the psychopathic leader of "the Jimmys”, a cult modelled after Jimmy Savile.[4]
  • Alfie Williams as Spike, a teenager who is on a personal quest on the mainland.
  • Erin Kellyman as Jimmy Ink, a member of the Jimmys.
  • Chi Lewis-Parry as "Samson", a physically imposing Alpha leader of the infected.
  • Emma Laird as Jimmima, a member of the Jimmys.
  • Maura Bird as Jimmy Jones, a member of the Jimmys.
  • Ghazi Al Ruffai as Jimmy Snake, a member of the Jimmys.[5]
  • Sam Locke as Jimmy Fox, a member of the Jimmys.[5]
  • Cillian Murphy as Jim, a former bicycle courier and survivor of the original outbreak. Murphy reprises his role from 28 Days Later,[6] with his appearance in The Bone Temple's ending serving as his character's reintroduction which sets up the planned third film.[7]

Production

Development

Nia DaCosta directed 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, with Alex Garland returning as screenwriter. Danny Boyle, who directed 28 Days Later and 28 Years Later, served as a producer on the sequel.

In April 2024, a sequel to 28 Years Later (2025) was reportedly in development, with Nia DaCosta in talks to direct the film, taking over from Danny Boyle, and Alex Garland returning to write the screenplay.[8] In June 2024, via a copyright filing, the title of the film was seemingly revealed to be 28 Years Later Part II: The Bone Temple.[9] Nia DaCosta's pitch for the film was to avoid copying Danny Boyle's directorial style to instead create a personal and idiosyncratic work,[10] and requested Alex Garland have more infected added to the script.[11] In December 2024, Aaron Taylor-Johnson seemingly revealed his character will not return for the film, yet admitted "we did one and two back to back".[12] DaCosta collaborated with Boyle in creating the character Samson during the development of the previous film, as the character will feature prominently in The Bone Temple.[11]

Filming

Principal photography began on 19 August 2024.[13] In September 2024, Cillian Murphy was spotted filming in Ennerdale, Cumbria with a crew reportedly attached to the film.[14] The Bone Temple set was constructed in Redmire, North Yorkshire.[15]

Release

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is scheduled to be released in the United States by Sony Pictures Releasing on 16 January 2026.[16] The first trailer was released on 3 September 2025.[17] The second trailer was released three months after the first trailer, on 3 December 2025.[18]

Sequel

The film was announced as part of a planned trilogy,[13] with Garland serving as screenwriter for all three.[19] In January 2025, Boyle confirmed that he would direct the final film in the trilogy.[20] That September, Murphy said that the third film would only be produced if audiences "go and see the second one".[7] In December that same year, it was announced that Sony was officially moving forward with the third film following the early responses to The Bone Temple, with Murphy in talks to reprise his role as Jim and Garland confirmed to write the film.[21]

References

  1. ^ "Hildur Guđnadóttir to Score Nia DaCosta's '28 Years Later Part II: The Bone Temple'". Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  2. ^ "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (18)". BBFC. 8 December 2025. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  3. ^ Mendoza, Liza (3 September 2025). "'28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' Trailer: Ralph Fiennes Returns in Zombie Sequel". Variety. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  4. ^ "Jack O'Connell". Conway Van Gelder Grant. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  5. ^ a b Rahman, Abid (9 December 2025). "'28 Years Later: The Bone Temple': First Reactions". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  6. ^ Guerrasio, Jason. "Danny Boyle confirms Cillian Murphy will appear in the "28 Years Later" sequel". Business Insider. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  7. ^ a b Ovenden, Olivia (6 September 2025). "Cillian Murphy: 'I have zero interest in contentment'". The Observer. Tortoise Media. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  8. ^ Kroll, Justin (10 April 2024). "'Candyman' Director Nia DaCosta In Talks To Helm Part Two Of New '28 Years Later' Trilogy From Sony Pictures". Deadline. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  9. ^ Bolt, Neil (24 June 2024). "28 Years Later Sequel Title Revealed in Copyright Filing". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  10. ^ Welch, Alex (2 September 2025). "Jack O'Connell Calls '28 Years Later' Sequel the 'Weird, Deranged Cousin' of First Film". TheWrap. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  11. ^ a b Ford, Lily (18 August 2025). "Nia DaCosta Reveals Her One Amendment to Alex Garland's '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' Script — "More Infected"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  12. ^ Aaron Taylor-Johnson talks Kraven the Hunter, Pietro, Kick-Ass | Happy Sad Confused. YouTube. 13 December 2024. Event occurs at 41:10. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  13. ^ a b Tabbara, Mona (19 August 2024). "Alex Garland and Andrew Macdonald talk '28 Years Later' trilogy, casting indie films and the importance of producers". Screen Daily. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  14. ^ Lake District: Cillian Murphy seen filming 28 Years Later in Ennerdale
  15. ^ Thapa, Shaurya (19 June 2025). "Where was '28 Years Later' filmed? The locations behind Danny Boyle's zombie sequel". Time Out. Time Out England Limited. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  16. ^ Stephan, Katcy (19 December 2024). "'28 Years Later' Sequel 'The Bone Temple' Gets January 2026 Release Date". Variety. Archived from the original on 16 August 2025. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  17. ^ 28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE - Official Trailer (HD). Sony Pictures Entertainment. 3 September 2025. Retrieved 3 September 2025 – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ 28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE - New Trailer (HD). Sony Pictures Entertainment. 3 December 2025. Retrieved 3 December 2025 – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ Jones, Ellan E. (30 March 2024). "Civil War film-maker Alex Garland: 'In the US and UK there's a lot to be very concerned about'". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  20. ^ Travis, Ben (9 January 2025). "28 Years Later Takes 'A Wholly Different Approach' To The Infected Saga, Says Danny Boyle". Empire.
  21. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (11 December 2025). "'28 Years Later III' Moving Forward At Sony: Cillian Murphy In Talks, Alex Garland Penning". Deadline. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
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