“The Bone Temple” is the second film in a planned trilogy, following “28 Years Later.”

Everything we know about 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple: Release date, cast, and Cillian Murphy’s return

"The Bone Temple" is the second film in a planned trilogy, following "28 Years Later."

By Allison DeGrushe

Allison DeGrushe

Allison DeGrushe is a timely SEO writer at **. She has been working at * *since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on Distractify.

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January 2, 2026 12:00 p.m. ET

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Ralph Fiennes in '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple'. Credit:

- *28 Years Later: The Bone Temple *picks up after the events of *28 Years Later. *

- Ralph Fiennes, Alfie Williams, and Jack O'Connell reprise their roles from the previous film.

- *The Bone Temple *is slated to hit theaters on Jan. 16, 2026.

Didn't get enough of the bone temple in *28 Years Later*? Boy, do we have good news for you.

That spire of skulls will likely play heavily into the horror hit's sequel, *The Bone Temple*, directed by Nia DaCosta (*Hedda*) and written by *28 Years Later *scribe Alex Garland (*Civil War*). It was shot back-to-back with its predecessor and is the second film in a planned trilogy.

Ralph Fiennes, who returns as Dr. Ian Kelson, previously spoke with ** about how this next installment highlights the "human violence" that persists even as the U.K. fights for survival against the Rage Virus.

Here's everything we know about *28 Years Later: The Bone Temple*, including its release date, cast, and plot.

What is *28 Years Later: The Bone Temple *about?

Dr. Kelson's Bone Temple in '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple'.

Sony Pictures Releasing

*28 Years Later *ends with young Spike (Alfie Williams) leaving for the mainland alone. After fleeing from the infected, he runs into Jimmy (Jack O'Connell), a strange figure wearing a tracksuit, gold chains, and an upside-down gold cross. Jimmy isn't alone, either — he's backed by a similarly-dressed crew who prove themselves adept at slicing and dicing infected. Jimmy invites Spike to join them.

Jimmy, as you might imagine, will play a major role in *The Bone Temple*. In a chat with *Rolling Stone*, *28 Years Later* director Danny Boyle described the sequel as “essentially a debate about the nature of evil between [Kelson] and the head Jimmy."

The official synopsis reads: "Dr. Kelson finds himself in a shocking new relationship — with consequences that could change the world as they know it — and Spike's encounter with Jimmy Crystal becomes a nightmare he can't escape, In the world of *The Bone Temple*, the infected are no longer the greatest threat to survival — the inhumanity of the survivors can be stranger and more terrifying."**

'28 Years Later' ending explained: Who is Jimmy and why is he dressed like that?

Danny Boyle's '28 Years Later' is stylistic, creative, and daring

Speaking with EW, Fiennes, who plays Dr. Kelson, noted the scene in which an infected gives birth in *28 Years Later* as foundational to what's to come. "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," he said.

He continued, "The ultimate human moment is an infected woman who is giving birth to a baby who is not infected. The theme of innate humanity — is it still alive in the soul, in the heart, in the mind of an infected person? Are they completely corrupted? Are they only rabid? Or is there the possibility of something? Something human, it's still there."

And Fiennes also noted that the sequel will address "human violence" in a significant way. "We carry in us the potential for terrible destruction and pain," he said. "That theme is picked up very strongly in the next film."

Is there a trailer for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple?

The first trailer for *The Bone Temple* highlights Dr. Kelson's titular structure, as well as his curiosity about the monstrous alpha, Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry).

Dr. Kelson isn't just spending time with Samson, though. The trailer sees Jimmy and his gang, a.k.a. "the Jimmies," visiting the Bone Temple. Could Spike be the one who leads them there? He's seen wearing a blonde wig in the trailer, hinting he's now part of the ruthless faction.

A follow-up trailer released in December 2025 offers a deeper look at Jimmy's meeting with Dr. Kelson, in which the young buck asks Fiennes' weary doctor if he's "Old Nick," a nickname for Satan.

"Old Nick released his demons unto the world of man," says Jimmy. "And the world of man fell before the demons."**

Elsewhere in the clip, we see Spike being recruited as a Jimmy, flashbacks to the early days of the Rage Virus, and Dr. Kelson declaring that he believes the infection can be treated.**

Who’s in the *28 Years Later: The Bone Temple *cast?

Jack O'Connell in '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple'.

Sony Pictures Releasing

Many players from *28 Years Later *will be reprising their roles in* The Bone Temple*, including Fiennes as Dr. Ian Kelson, Williams as Spike, O’Connell as Jimmy, and Lewis-Parry as Samson.

Also returning is Erin Kellyman (*The Falcon and the Winter Soldier*). She's seen multiple times in the trailer, wearing a blonde wig and stirring up violence with the Jimmies.

Is Cillian Murphy in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple?

Cillian Murphy as Jim in '28 Days Later'.

Peter Mountain/Fox Searchlight

Yes, Cillian Murphy will return for *The Bone Temple*. Though he didn't appear in *28 Years Later*, the Oscar-winning actor will reprise his role as Jim, a bike courier who survived the original outbreak in* 28 Days Later*.

Murphy told *The Observer* that his role in *The Bone Temple* is brief and comes toward the end, but it sets the stage for him to play a key part in a potential third and final movie. "Everyone's got to go and see the second one," he said. "I'm sure they will – it's really, really good."**

When does *28 Years Later: The Bone Temple *come out?

The Jimmies in '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple'.

Sony Pictures Releasing

*28 Years Later: The Bone Temple *hits theaters on Jan. 16, 2026.**

Where can I watch 28 Years Later?

*28 Years Later* is currently streaming on Netflix.

*28 Days Later *is also available on Netflix, while *28 Weeks Later *is streaming on Hulu.

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Source: “EW Horror”