The world of 28 Days Later has always been one of brutal, unrelenting dread. From the moment Cillian Murphy‘s Jim awoke in a deserted London, audiences have been gripped by the terrifying reality of the Rage virus. The franchise was spectacularly brought back to life this summer with the release of Danny Boyle and Alex Garland‘s 28 Years Later, which picked up nearly three decades on from the original outbreak and plunged audiences into a new era of horror. Now, the first trailer for the second film in the revitalised saga, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, has arrived, and it promises to turn the world we know on its head yet again.
While the first film in this new trilogy was a long-awaited return for original director Boyle and writer Garland, The Bone Temple sees the director’s chair filled by Nia DaCosta. An expert at blending sharp social commentary with visceral horror and high-stakes action, DaCosta is a savvy choice to take the directorial reins. Her appointment signals a confident, new vision for the franchise—one that will take the very foundations Boyle laid and push them in thrilling and unexpected directions.
With the infected a fading threat, the story pivots to something far more terrifying: the survivors themselves, and the inhumanity they’re capable of. The film will explore the darkest corners of human nature as Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) enters a disturbing new relationship that could change the world, and Spike’s (Alfie Williams) encounter with Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell) spirals into an inescapable nightmare.
Serving as the middle act of a planned trilogy, this new entry builds on the overwhelmingly positive reception of its predecessor, all but guaranteeing a definitive conclusion to the saga.
The film is produced by Andrew Macdonald, Peter Rice, Bernard Bellew, Danny Boyle, and Alex Garland, with franchise star Cillian Murphy returning as an Executive Producer.
Even greater changes are still to come when 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple hits movie theaters January 16, 2026.
