28 Years Later
LOS ANGELES – The highly anticipated next chapter in the groundbreaking 28 Days Later franchise, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, promises to plunge audiences back into a world where humanity’s greatest threat isn’t just the infected—but the darkness within ourselves. Directed by Nia DaCosta (Candyman, The Marvels) and written by Alex Garland, the film serves as both a sequel to Danny Boyle’s recent 28 Years Later and the fourth installment in the acclaimed series. In an exclusive first look, DaCosta and cast members revealed insights into the film’s evolution, its chilling new narrative, and the creative vision driving this bold expansion of the dystopian universe.
Set to release in theaters on January 16, 2026, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple picks up shortly after the events of its predecessor, continuing the story of Spike (Alfie Williams) as he navigates a nightmarish landscape overrun by the rage virus. But this time, the focus shifts toward the terrifying rise of a cult-like figure and the brutal clash between surviving factions. DaCosta, who took directorial reins just three weeks after Boyle wrapped the previous film, emphasized her commitment to honoring the franchise’s legacy while fearlessly making it her own.
“The thing that connects the two is that they’re both bonkers, idiosyncratic, and very artistically personal works,” DaCosta shared with Rolling Stone. “My big pitch when I was talking to the producers, including Danny and Alex, before I came on was, ‘I’m going to make this my own. I’m not going to try to make a Danny Boyle movie.’ Because that’s impossible to make. He’s so special. And it didn’t really interest me.” She added, “It’s so hard to describe the tone of the movie that I actually won’t even attempt to. But it keeps the same unique, off-the-wall, surprising energy.”
A Deep Dive into the Story and Characters
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple follows Spike, whom DaCosta describes as “the through line” between the films, as he is forcibly recruited into a violent cult led by the enigmatic Sir Jimmy Crystal, portrayed by Jack O’Connell. Crystal, introduced in the previous film, commands a loyal following known as the Jimmies—blond-haired, velour-suited devotees who embody a new kind of threat in this fractured world. Their ideology and actions blur the lines between survival and savagery, posing questions about morality and humanity in the face of annihilation.
O’Connell delved into his character’s complexity, describing Sir Jimmy as “extremely dark and twisted.” He noted, “When you see the character as a child in the first installment of the films, you see what he bears witness to. That plants an early seed for what he becomes. We’re in an apocalyptic world, and evil and darkness are two of the forces that have been able to still exist, and he revels in them.” The actor also teased the character’s arc, explaining that while Jimmy initially appears to be “doing good,” the story takes him on “a journey of twisted gaiety.”
The film also expands on the storyline of Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) and his relationship with Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry), an Alpha virus-carrier whom Kelson keeps sedated but refuses to destroy. DaCosta hinted at the depth of their dynamic, noting, “We’ve seen Samson ripping people’s heads off, but Kelson’s a kook, and he’s doing what he wants to do.” Their uneasy alliance becomes a central element of the narrative, challenging perceptions of who—or what—poses the real danger in this world.
Themes of Humanity and Survival
At its core, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple explores profound themes of belief, power, and the nature of evil. DaCosta reflected on the franchise’s ability to hold a mirror to society, stating, “The concept of the rage virus gives us the opportunity to really talk about humanity. In particular, in this film, it’s about the nature of evil and how we contextualize that in a world with a lot of belief systems that have been created in order to handle the meaninglessness of existence.”
O’Connell echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the infected are not purely antagonists in the story. “We see how much nature is the unstoppable force at the end of the day. Nature prevails. The world will take its natural course with or without humans. But I don’t think the infected are purely antagonists in our film. It definitely will make you consider that.”
Production and Visual Style
Shot entirely on location, the film aims to immerse viewers in the stark, haunting beauty of a world reclaimed by nature and chaos. DaCosta and her team employed distinct visual styles to differentiate between the worlds of the Jimmies and Dr. Kelson, using cinematography to enhance the narrative’s emotional and psychological layers. The director also promised that the action would deliver the kind of visceral, heart-pounding intensity that fans expect from the franchise, though she clarified that the focus remains on eliciting specific emotional responses rather than gratuitous gore.
“As a viewer, I love gore and body horror and visceral effects,” DaCosta admitted. “But when I’m directing, it’s more about what effect I want to create and what I want people to feel. There wasn’t a mandate that it had to be super-gory, but there are some moments.”
A Supportive Collaboration and Bright Future
The production brought together a talented ensemble, including Emma Laird and Erin Kellyman as members of Jimmy’s “outlaw posse.” DaCosta praised O’Connell’s performance as “a wonder,” noting that he is firmly in his “baddie era” following his role in Sinners. She also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to build on the foundation laid by Boyle and Garland, whose original 2002 film redefined the zombie genre.
With executive producer Cillian Murphy and producers Andrew Macdonald, Peter Rice, and Bernard Bellew supporting the project, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is poised to become a standout entry in the franchise. As audiences await the trailer release and the film’s premiere, the excitement surrounding DaCosta’s vision continues to build, promising a thought-provoking and adrenaline-fueled cinematic experience.
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