News of 28 Years Later has cracked open a corner of modern horror history that many assumed was sealed for good. More than two decades after Danny Boyle and Alex Garland redefined the zombie genre with 28 Days Later, the long-dormant saga is stirring again.
The project arrives with an unusual sense of momentum: a renewed trilogy plan, a studio push to resurrect a cultural landmark, and the magnetic prospect of Cillian Murphy stepping back into a world that once launched him into global recognition.
The involvement of the Oscar-winning actor for Oppenheimer—whether in a key onscreen role or through a creative presence behind the camera—has already become one of the most discussed elements surrounding the film’s development.
Cillian Murphy is in talks to reprise his role
Talks about Cillian Murphy reprising his iconic role as Jim from 28 Days Later have taken on a life of their own as 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple moves closer to release. The actor, who became a defining face of the franchise in its 2002 debut, does not appear in the first of the new trilogy, 28 Years Later.
However, multiple reports indicate that the actor will show up in the sequel, albeit briefly, setting the stage for a potential larger part in a planned third film. Director Danny Boyle has suggested that Cillian’s involvement could be a key factor in securing financing for the trilogy’s concluding chapter.
While some early statements were unclear about his presence, the weight of current reporting confirms that his return to the saga is more than wishful thinking. His portrayal of Jim, a survivor of the original viral outbreak, has become a touchstone for fans.
When will 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple be released?
The release date for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple has been firmly set: the sequel is scheduled to hit theaters on January 16, 2026, arriving just seven months after 28 Years Later made its 2025 debut.
This timing reflects an ambitious production strategy, as both films were shot back-to-back during the summer of 2024, ensuring that audiences won’t wait long between installments.
The decision to position the movie early in the year—over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend in the United States—suggests confidence from Sony Pictures Releasing in the franchise’s ability to draw horror fans even outside the traditional summer blockbuster season.
Who is in the cast of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple?
While Cillian Murphy’s potential cameo looms large, The Bone Temple features an ensemble of both returning and new performers who help give the sequel its own identity…
The film stars Ralph Fiennes (Harry Potter and Schindler’s List) as Dr. Ian Kelson and Jack O’Connell (Unbroken and Sinners) as Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal—figures central to the brutal, post-apocalyptic world the story explores.
Alongside them are Alfie Williams (His Dark Materials) reprising his role as Spike, and Erin Kellyman (The Green Knight) and Chi Lewis-Parry (Gladiator II), who add depth to the growing roster of survivors and antagonists.
This mix of seasoned actors and rising talent underscores how the franchise is bridging its roots with fresh narrative energy, bringing seasoned survivors and terrifying new threats into the fold. The cast list includes so far:
- Ralph Fiennes as Dr. Kelson
- Emma Laird as Jimmima
- Jack O’Connell as Sir Jimmy Crystal
- Robert Rhodes as Jimmy Jimmy
- Erin Kellyman as Jimmy Ink
- Chi Lewis-Parry as Samson
- Alfie Williams as Spike
- Louis Ashbourne Serkis as Tom
- David Sterne as Grandfather
- Maura Bird as Jimmy Jones
- Sam Locke as Jimmy Fox
- Natalie Cousteau as Natalie Williams, Ticket Inspector
- Elliot Benn as Husband
- Ghazi Al Ruffai as Jimmy Snake
- Mia Verity as Train Passenger
Will 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple follow the plot of 28 Years Later?
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is very much a direct continuation of the storyline set in motion by its predecessor. Set in the same post-apocalyptic Britain ravaged by the Rage Virus, the sequel picks up where the previous film left off, following familiar faces as they navigate a world where the threat of infection has been eclipsed by human cruelty and cult-like fervor.
Rather than resetting the narrative, The Bone Temple deepens it, exploring the fractured humanity of survivors and escalating the stakes with new dynamics among the ensemble cast.
Characters like Kelson and Spike confront psychological and physical horrors that stretch the original concept beyond simple survival horror, anchoring the sequel firmly within the narrative arc established earlier in the year.