''28 Years Later: The Bone Temple'' is an upcoming

post-apocalyptic Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction are genres of speculative fiction in which the Earth's (or another planet's) civilization is collapsing or has collapsed. The apocalypse event may be climatic, such as runaway climate change; astronom ...

horror film Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit physical or psychological fear in its viewers. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with Transgressive art, transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements of the genre include Mo ...

directed by

Nia DaCosta Nia DaCosta (born November 8, 1989) is an American filmmaker. She rose to prominence when she made her feature-length debut as a writer and director with the crime thriller film ''Little Woods'' (2018), winning the Nora Ephron Prize for Female ...

and written by

Alex Garland Alexander Medawar Garland (born 26 May 1970) is an English author, screenwriter, and director. He rose to prominence with his novel '' The Beach'' (1996). He received praise for writing the Danny Boyle films '' 28 Days Later'' (2002) and '' Sun ...

. It was shot

back-to-back Back to Back or back-to-back may refer to: Film and theatre *Back to Back (film), ''Back to Back'' (film), a 1996 American action film *Back-to-back film production, the practice of making two films as a unified production *Back to Back Theatre, ...

with its predecessor ''

28 Years Later ''28 Years Later'' is a 2025 post-apocalyptic horror film produced and directed by Danny Boyle, and written by Alex Garland. The third installment in the ''28 Days Later'' film series, following ''28 Days Later'' (2002) and ''28 Weeks Later'' ...

'' (2025), and serves as the fourth instalment overall in the ''28 Days Later'' film series. The film stars Alfie Williams,

Aaron Taylor-Johnson Aaron Perry Taylor-Johnson (né Johnson; born 13 June 1990) is an English actor. He is known for his portrayal of the title character in '' Kick-Ass'' (2010) and its sequel '' Kick-Ass 2'' (2013), as well as the Marvel Cinematic Universe charact ...

, Jack O'Connell,

Ralph Fiennes Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes (; born 22 December 1962) is an English actor, film producer, and director. He has received List of awards and nominations received by Ralph Fiennes, various accolades, including a British Academy Film ...

, and

Cillian Murphy Cillian Murphy ( ; born 25 May 1976) is an Irish actor. His works encompass both stage and screen, and his accolades include an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe Award. He made his professional debut in Enda Walsh's 1996 pl ...

. ''28 Years Later: The Bone Temple'' will be released on 16 January 2026, by

Sony Pictures Releasing Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group (formerly known as the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group until 2013, and abbreviated as SPMPG) is a division of Sony Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment to manage its motion picture operatio ...

. A sequel to ''The Bone Temple'' is in development.

Cast

* Alfie Williams as Spike, Jamie's son who is on a personal quest on the mainland *

as Jamie, a scavenger and widower who is in search of his son * Jack O'Connell as Sir Jimmy Crystal, a cult leader * Emma Laird as Jimmima, a member of Jimmy's cult * Maura Bird as Jimmy Jones, a member of Jimmy's cult *

Erin Kellyman Erin Mae Kellyman (born 17 October 1998) is a British actress. On television, she gained prominence through the Channel 4 sitcom '' Raised by Wolves'' (2015–2016) and the BBC series '' Les Misérables'' (2018), '' Don't Forget the Driver'' (20 ...

as Jimmy Ink, a member of Jimmy's cult *

as Dr. Ian Kelson, a survivor of the outbreak * Chi Lewis-Parry as "Samson," a physically imposing Alpha leader of the infected *

as Jim, a former bicycle courier and survivor of the original outbreak. Murphy reprises his role from ''

28 Days Later ''28 Days Later'' (sometimes stylised with ellipsis as ''28 Days Later...'') is a 2002 post-apocalyptic horror film directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland. It stars Cillian Murphy as a bicycle courier who awakens from a coma to d ...

''.

Production

Development

In April 2024, a sequel to ''

'' (2025) was reportedly in development, with

in talks to direct the film, taking over from

Danny Boyle Daniel Francis Boyle (born 20 October 1956) is an English director and producer. He is known for his work on the films ''Shallow Grave (1994 film), Shallow Grave'' (1994), ''Trainspotting (film), Trainspotting'' (1996) and its sequel ''T2 Tra ...

, and

returning to write the screenplay. 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''. In December 2024,

seemingly revealed he would return for the film, saying "we did ''one'' and ''two'' back to back". The film was produced by

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., Trade name, doing business as Columbia Pictures, is an American film Production company, production and Film distributor, distribution company that is the flagship unit of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group ...

.US Copyright Office
Document No. V15022D529 / 2024-02-21

Filming

Principal photography Principal photography is the phase of producing a film or television show in which the bulk of shooting takes place, as distinct from the phases of pre-production and post-production. Personnel Besides the main film personnel, such as the ...

began on 19 August 2024. In September 2024,

was spotted filming in Ennerdale, Cumbria with a crew reportedly attached to the film.

Release

''28 Years Later: The Bone Temple'' is scheduled to be released in the United States by

on 16 January 2026.

Sequel

The film was announced as part of a planned trilogy, with Garland serving as screenwriter for all three. In January 2025, Boyle confirmed that he would direct the final film in the trilogy.

References

External links

* {{Portal bar, 2020s, Film, United Kingdom, United States, Speculative fiction, Horror, Viruses 2020s American films 2020s British films 2020s dystopian films 2020s English-language films 2020s science fiction horror films 2026 horror films 28 Days Later (film series) American dystopian films American post-apocalyptic films American science fiction horror films American sequel films American zombie films British dystopian films British post-apocalyptic films British science fiction horror films British sequel films British zombie films Columbia Pictures films Eco-terrorism in fiction English-language science fiction horror films Films about viral outbreaks Films directed by Nia DaCosta Films produced by Alex Garland Films produced by Andrew Macdonald Films produced by Danny Boyle Films scored by Hildur Guðnadóttir Films shot in North Yorkshire Films with screenplays by Alex Garland Upcoming English-language films