The highly anticipated next chapter in the groundbreaking zombie horror saga, ’28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,’ is scheduled to hit theaters on January 16, 2026. This sequel to ’28 Years Later’ (2025) was shot back-to-back and is set to continue the franchise’s dark and character-driven exploration of survival and human nature in a post-apocalyptic Britain ravaged by the Rage Virus.

Confirmed Release Date and Production Details

The film is the second installment in a planned trilogy written by the original series co-creator Alex Garland, with Nia DaCosta (‘Candyman,’ ‘The Marvels’) taking over as director. This creative team signals a bold shift in style and tone, promising a film that is “bonkers, idiosyncratic, and very artistically personal.”

• Release Date: January 16, 2026 (Exclusive theatrical release)
• Director: Nia DaCosta
• Writer: Alex Garland
• Producers: Andrew Macdonald, Peter Rice, Bernard Bellew, Danny Boyle, and Alex Garland.
• Executive Producer: Cillian Murphy (reprising his role as Jim from ’28 Days Later’ in a limited capacity)

The Ensemble Cast and Character Focus

The sequel will feature the return of key players introduced in ’28 Years Later’ and a highly anticipated appearance from the franchise’s original protagonist. The focus shifts to the brutality of survivors, with human cruelty becoming a greater threat than the infected themselves, echoing a theme explored in ’28 Weeks Later’.

• Ralph Fiennes returns as Dr. Ian Kelson, whose mysterious “Bone Temple” structure will play a central role. The sequel will explore his shocking new relationship with one of the Alpha infected.
• Alfie Williams reprises his role as Spike, who, at the end of the previous film, was rescued by the terrifying new faction.
• Jack O’Connell returns as the twisted cult leader Sir Jimmy Crystal. The film is expected to heavily feature Crystal and his brutal gang, “The Jimmies,” positioning them as the new primary antagonists.
• Erin Kellyman also returns, notably seen in the trailer wearing a blonde wig, suggesting a full immersion into the violent “Jimmies” faction alongside Spike.
• Chi Lewis-Parry reprises the role of Samson, the monstrous Alpha infected.
• Cillian Murphy will make a brief but pivotal appearance as Jim (the protagonist of ’28 Days Later’), reportedly appearing toward the end to set up a major role in the third and final installment of the trilogy.

Trailer and Plot Tease: “The Nature of Evil”

The official trailer for ’28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’ was released on September 3, 2025, offering a glimpse into the film’s darker and more violent direction. Director Nia DaCosta is reportedly employing distinct visual approaches to separate the world of Dr. Kelson from the world of Sir Jimmy Crystal, with Spike serving as the central figure caught between the two.

The film’s plot is said to be about “the nature of evil,” directly contrasting the previous film’s focus on “the nature of family.”

• The Bone Temple: The trailer heavily features Dr. Kelson’s titular structure—a grotesque tribute made of human skulls—as a major location. Dr. Kelson is seen attempting to “tame” the Alpha infected, Samson.
• The Jimmies: The trailer spotlights the brutality of Sir Jimmy Crystal’s gang, showing them engaging in acts of torture and violence against other survivors, cementing their status as a terrifying new human threat.
• Spike’s Nightmare: The plot will follow Spike’s encounter with Sir Jimmy Crystal, which quickly turns into a nightmare as he is inducted into the ruthless gang.