Title28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026)DirectorNia DaCostaGenreHorror, Sci-fi, ThrillerCast HighlightsRalph Fiennes, Alfie Williams, Chi Lewis-Parry, Erin Kellyman, Jack O’ConnellRelease DateJanuary 16, 2026 (USA)Running Time109 min
Compared to the years-long wait for a new entry in the 28 Days Later series, the turnaround for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple has been relatively swift. While legacy sequels often fail to replicate the magic of the original, this wasn’t the case for Danny Boyle‘s 28 Years Later. Hopefully, The Bone Temple, set to be directed by Nia DaCosta, can follow suit, especially given that both films were shot back-to-back.
Unlike previous entries, the movie will be a direct follow-up, continuing the events of the 2025 entry. With the movie gradually inching forward, here’s an overview of everything you need to know before experiencing The Bone Temple next month on the big screen.
MoviesYear of ReleaseRotten Tomatoes ScoreBox Office Collection28 Days Later200387% | 85%$82 million28 Weeks Later200773% | 66%$64 million28 Years Later202589% | 63%$150 million
When is 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Releasing?
The Bone Temple will premiere in the UK on January 14 before opening in the US on January 16, 2026, which will be followed by a worldwide rollout.
As discussed earlier, the release window marks a departure from the increasingly long gaps between modern sequels, a result of Sony’s decision to shoot both entries back to back, a rare approach when it comes to comeback sequels. However, given the critical and commercial success of 28 Years Later, with excitement for the sequel at an all-time high, this was undoubtedly the right move on Sony’s part.
28 Years: The Bone Temple Cast – Is Cillian Murphy Back?
A still from 28 Days Later | Credit: Searchlight Pictures
Considering it’s a direct sequel, many primary figures from the 2025 release will be reprising their roles, including Ralph Fiennes as Dr. Ian Kelson, Alfie Williams as Spike, Jack O’Connell as the enigmatic cult leader Jimmy Crystal, Chi Lewis-Parry as Samson, and Erin Kellyman. As for Cillian Murphy, who was absent in the last movie, he’ll indeed return as Jim.
However, his presence in the sequel will be pretty brief, as Murphy clarified (via The Observer), his character is “only in it for a little bit”. On the bright side, it’ll set him as the mainstay for the conclusion to this new trilogy, and fortunately for fans, the threequel has only received the greenlight at Sony, with Alex Garland set to pen the movie (via Deadline).
The Bone Temple: Plot, Themes, and What We Know So Far
A still from 28 Years Later | Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing
The story will pick up right after the events of the 2025 movie and will explore themes of faith, survival, and humanity’s descent into madness. According to the synopsis, the infected will no longer be the greatest threat to survival. Instead, it’s the living that will pose more danger and the ending to 28 Years Later, featuring Spike’s encounter with Jimmy’s cult, did allude to that.
Jimmy’s followers, described as Jimmies, are being shaped to be the next big bad of the series, and according to Ralph Fiennes, themes explored in 28 Years Later will carry over to the sequel, especially the tendency of human violence (via EW).
I can say that the themes that we touched on in the scene on the train, the moment of labor, the humanity — it is a critical moment in the life of a mother and child… We carry in us the potential for terrible destruction and pain. That theme is picked up very strongly in the next film.
Although the budget for the movie is yet to be unveiled, considering the first movie in Boyle’s intended trilogy reportedly cost $60 million, expect this one to land in the same ballpark. Moreover, the goodwill generated among fans, coupled with the cliff-hanger ending of 28 Years Later, will likely work in favor of the sequel’s box office reception. And going by the early reactions, we might be in for another stellar entry in the series.
Watch the trailer here:
Are you excited about The Bone Temple? Comment below!
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple will release on January 16, 2026.
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